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Basophils are a subgroup of white blood cells (leukocytes). Increases are most often found in donors with allergies.

Beta HCG is used to detect pregnancy. During and after menopause, the value is usually slightly higher.

Bilirubin is a degradation product of hemoglobin. This is divided into indirect bilirubin from erythrocytes and direct bilirubin from the liver and gallbladder. The most common is a slight (two- to threefold) increase in bilirubin in congenital metabolic variants (e.g. Meulengracht’s disease). These have no disease value. Caution is only advised when taking the painkiller paracetamol. If you have received paracetamol for a preliminary examination and Meulengracht’s disease has been diagnosed in the blood test, you will automatically receive an alternative, safe painkiller.

Each donor’s blood type is determined. It is divided into the blood groups A, B, AB, and O, and the rhesus subgroups c, C, D, e, and E. Blood group serological examinations primarily serve to inform the transplant center. For you as a donor, only the detection of irregular antibodies is relevant. If you should receive a blood transfusion at any time in your life, this information will help the blood bank to find the right blood for you.

Usually the blood sugar must be determined on an empty stomach. Since you usually have not fasted for the preliminary examination, the value is usually 1.5 to 2.5 times higher. That’s perfectly normal.
If the blood collection tube is not transported fast enough to the analysis laboratory, it may fall below the standard value. This shortfall is meaningless to you.

Calcium is an electrolyte of blood and the most important mineral component of bone. Changes occur with hormonal changes or disturbances of the bone metabolism. Calcium is also essential for the conduction and transmission of stimuli in the nervous system. With peripheral stem cell donation, your blood is led through a tube system into the cell separator. An anticoagulant must be used to prevent the blood from clotting during the collection procedure. We use an anticoagulant that is similar to citric acid and is quickly broken down by the body. This anticoagulant can cause a short-term calcium deficiency. A calcium deficiency manifests itself through symptoms such as tingling in the mouth and lip area or, for example, in the fingers. These complaints can be quickly remedied by calcium administration.

Cholinesterase is an enzyme of the liver and enables statements to be made about liver function. Slight deviations from the standard value are of no relevance. A significant shortfall is found in a rare congenital form. In this case, a particular drug should not be administered during anesthesia for bone marrow collection.

Standard tests are performed to diagnose coagulation disorders (TPZ, Quick, PTT, INR). Slight changes are usually harmless and occur when the sampling tube has not been filled correctly or has been transported to the laboratory for a long time.

Creatinine is a breakdown product from muscle metabolism. Creatinine is excreted completely through the kidney. Elevations can be seen in renal dysfunction. More often, our donors have an increase after sports or strength training.

The so-called C-reactive protein is a nonspecific inflammation marker. This value is increased in all forms of infections but also in smokers (due to chronic bronchitis). Slight elevations that can be explained by further findings (e.g. latent urinary tract infection) do not require further examination. If the increase is high, you will be contacted by our Cellex doctors. If necessary, the value must be checked again.

CMV is a herpesvirus and is usually transmitted as a droplet infection in young adults. The proportion of CMV positives (CMV IgG pos.) therefore rises with age to over 50% of the population. CMV can also be transmitted through blood and blood products. The detection of CMV IgM indicates a recent CMV infection. In this case, the blood sample is further analyzed (e.g. with direct detection of the virus DNA) to assess the risk of transmission for the recipient. If the risk of transmission is high, this can lead to a postponement of the donation. The level of these values is of no relevance to you. These values are only used to find out whether an infection occurred a short time ago or a long time ago.

EBV is a herpesvirus that is most commonly transmitted in young adults via droplet infection (Pfeiffer’s disease). EBV can also be transmitted through blood and blood products. It is tested how long ago the EBV infection occurred and whether transmission to the recipient is likely. An acute or very recent EBV infection in the donor can lead to spleen enlargement. Since the stem-cell-stimulating drug also leads to spleen enlargement in the peripheral donation, in the case of an acute EBV infection, the peripheral donation must be postponed or a change to the bone marrow collection procedure must be made.
The infection parameters are specified as titer levels or units. The level of these values is of no relevance to you. These values are only used to find out whether an infection occurred a short time ago or a long time ago.

Eosinophils are a subgroup of white blood cells (leukocytes). They serve as immunological defense against parasites and are involved in hypersensitivity reactions. Elevations are typically observed in donors with allergies. Reductions are generally of no relevance. In the case of peripheral stem cell donation, the ratio of leukocytes to each other (differential blood count) may also change four weeks after donation. However, this is of no relevance.

Red cell indices include MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RDW. They provide information on the size and hemoglobin content of erythrocytes. Deviations can only be interpreted in the synopsis of all indices.

Erythrocytes are the red blood cells. They contain the hemoglobin and transport oxygen from the lungs to the end organs. Changes in erythrocyte count can only be seen in the interaction of other values (hematocrit, MCV, MVH, and MCHC). The MCV (mean corpuscular volume) of erythrocytes is most frequently altered. MCV is typically reduced in iron deficiency, but increased in folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency.

Ferritin is a transport molecule for iron in the blood. Increases are often observed in infectious diseases and inflammations. Decreases indicate an iron deficiency. If the ferritin value has fallen below the lower standard limit, but the hemoglobin value is still normal, there is a latent iron deficiency. Even at this early stage, it makes sense to take iron as a medicine or dietary supplement.

Gamma-GT is an enzyme of the bile ducts and gallbladder. Slight elevations without clinical symptoms are usually irrelevant. Elevations can occur in liver disease and gallstones.

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is a measure of renal function. The values are to be considered in connection with other kidney values, e.g. creatinine.

The GOT is an enzyme of the liver and erythrocytes. Elevations occur, for example, even with slight changes in the liver texture (e.g. fatty liver) but can also mean an increased decay of erythrocytes. Frequently the GOT is increased after a major sporting activity. The GOT must always be interpreted in a synopsis of further values.

GPT is an enzyme of the liver. Increases occur with changes in the liver texture (e.g. fatty liver). The GPT is more liver-specific than the GOT.

Hematocrit is the ratio of liquid blood components (plasma) to cellular components. The value is closely related to hemoglobin and is decreased in anemia.

Hemoglobin is the red blood pigment and thus the transport carrier for the blood oxygen. Decreases occur in anemia. The most common form is iron deficiency anemia. Slight reductions (10–15% below normal) are not rare and often affect women (menstrual blood loss) or blood donors who regularly donate whole blood. Hemoglobin proliferation typically occurs during prolonged stays at high altitudes or among smokers.
With peripheral stem cell donation, you lose such a small amount of blood that it has no effect on hemoglobin levels. After bone marrow collection, the hemoglobin value may drop by one to three points. The initial value from the time before the donation is usually only reached again after three months.

HAV triggers infectious jaundice. It is transmitted via the fecal–oral route but can also be passed on via blood products. Most donors are already vaccinated against HAV or have the disease behind them. A current infection is detected by HAV-PCR.

HBV is transmitted through blood, blood products, and sexual contact. The acute infection can appear as jaundice and usually heals spontaneously. In some cases, it comes to a chronic course in which the affected persons are also contagious. Various test methods are used for the evaluation. The detection of so-called anti-HBs indicates immunity to HBV, usually by prior vaccination. The titer/unit height is irrelevant for you. Except in the case of occupationally exposed persons, it is not necessary to refresh the vaccination after successful basic immunization. Simultaneous detection of anti-HBs indicates a past (healed) HBV infection. If further virus detection is negative, these donors will be allowed to donate blood or stem cells.
The detection of HBsAG or HBV-PCR is an acute or chronic infection and donation is not possible.

HCV is transmitted through blood, blood products, and sexual contact. The detection of anti-HBC or HCV-PCR indicates contact with the virus. These persons are generally excluded from a donation.
In some cases, the anti-HCV test is erroneously positive. In this case, further investigations should be carried out. If the result cannot be confirmed and the HCV-PCR is negative, a release for donation can be made.

HIV is a retrovirus and triggers HIV infection. Anti-HIV-1/2 and PCR-HIV are tested. In case of a positive detection, no donor release can take place.

HTLV is a retrovirus transmitted through blood and sexual contact. The occurrence of HTLV is limited to a few regions of the world (e.g. Japan). Infections therefore do not actually occur in Germany. Nevertheless, we are all obliged to test donors to that effect. False-positive tests occur and are then further tested in a reference laboratory. If these retests are negative, a donation may be made.

LDH is an enzyme that is present in all body cells. “Wrong” elevations are often due to improper blood collection (too-fast aspiration) or too-long transport of the tube to the laboratory. Real elevations are rare and indicate increased cell turnover. This occurs, for example, after banal colds but also in congenital or acquired forms of anemia.

Leukocytes are white blood cells. Leukocytes can be further divided into neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. An increase in the number of leukocytes is typically found as a reaction to infections but also under stress conditions, e.g. after bone marrow donation. A reduction in leukocytes occurs in the case of a cold or educational disorders. The differential blood count is always used to interpret the leukocyte values.
In preparation for the peripheral stem cell donation, donors receive the drug Granocyte, which stimulates the leukocytes in the bone marrow. The upper standard value can be exceeded several times (three to eight times). This increase in the number of leukocytes gradually decreases after the donation and the cells are broken down by the body. This can take up to three weeks. During the follow-up examination by the family doctor four weeks after donation, the leukocyte value is usually already normalized again. Often it is also slightly lower than the initial value. This has no relevance to you.

Lymphocytes are a subgroup of leukocytes. Lymphocytes serve as a specific defense against infections. Minor increases or decreases occur in both acute and declining infections. In the peripheral stem cell donation, the lymphocytes with the leukocytes are increasingly released into the blood and slowly degraded again after the donation. Temporary deviations from the norm value are frequent four weeks after donation but are of no relevance.
In lymphocyte donation (DLI), these cells are specifically collected. Apheresis causes you to lose about 20 to 30% of the lymphocytes circulating in the blood. This has no effect on any susceptibility to infection. The initial values are usually reached again after a few days.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that frequently occurs in countries close to the equator. A visit to one of these countries would lead to a four-month ban on donating blood. As a rule, transplant centers accept shorter periods for stem cell donors. In individual cases (e.g. stay in a high-risk area without malaria prophylaxis or fever attack during the stay), further tests for malaria diagnostics are carried out (e.g. malaria antibodies, malaria PCR, thick drops).

See erythrocyte indices.

See erythrocyte indices.

See erythrocyte indices.

Monocytes belong to the white blood cells (leukocytes). They serve the specific defense against infections. Slight changes in the differential blood count are usually without relevance.

Neutrophils belong to the white blood cells (leukocytes) and are the first guard in the defense against invaders and bacteria. They decompose and release toxic substances for bacteria. Elevations occur in all types of inflammation and especially in bacterial infections. Smokers often have slightly elevated values due to chronic irritation of the bronchial system. Slightly lowered values are usually without relevance; strongly lowered values rarely occur after drug administration (e.g. Novalgin). In peripheral stem cell donation, donors receive the drug Granocyte, which stimulates the neutrophil leukocytes in the bone marrow.

Parvovirus B19 is the pathogen that causes rubella. Parvovirus B19 can lead to a loss of the graft in stem cell transplant recipients; therefore, the infectivity of the donor is tested prior to stem cell donation.

Phosphatase is an enzyme of the bone metabolism and the bile ducts. Slight elevations occur in diseases of the bile ducts. Metabolic diseases should be considered in conjunction with other values (such as calcium).

Potassium is an electrolyte that is primarily excreted via the kidneys. Increases in potassium therefore occur in kidney dysfunction, and decreases in increased excretion (e.g. diuretic drugs).
In peripheral stem cell donation, potassium loss occurs due to the addition of citrate (citric acid) as an anticoagulant. You will therefore receive potassium-containing effervescent tablets or powder after the donation.
Often the potassium level is erroneously increased during laboratory tests if the sample has been transported over a longer distance (e.g. by post from the family doctor to the laboratory). As a result, the erythrocytes disintegrate into the sample tubes and release potassium.

Sodium is an electrolyte of the blood. Changes are rare and occur with hormonal disorders or rarely with severe fluid deficiency.

Thrombocytes are the blood platelets that are responsible for blood clotting. Increased values are often found in infections or chronic inflammations. However, infections can also lead to a reduction in blood platelets. Rarely there is also an immunological degradation of the thrombocytes.
Since peripheral stem cell apheresis involves the collection of part of the blood platelets for technical reasons, the thrombocytes should not be less than 120 g/l on the day of the preliminary examination and donation.
After peripheral stem cell donation, the number of thrombocytes can be about one-third lower than the initial value; blood clotting is not affected. About one week after the donation, the thrombocyte values return to their original values.

If the TSH value is changed or if abnormalities are found in the thyroid ultrasound, further thyroid parameters are determined. These include the thyroid hormones fT3 and fT4 as well as antibodies against thyroid tissue such as MAK, TRAK, and TAK. The interpretation is done by our Cellex doctors, and relevant findings will be communicated to you immediately.

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by parasites transmitted by raw meat or cat droppings. The disease heals without consequences in people with a healthy immune system. About 50% of the population is infected (IgG positive). In the detection of IgM, the initial infection may have occurred only recently, which means that further investigations are necessary. A fresh or still-active disease with toxoplasmosis could trigger a disease in the recipient of the stem cell preparation, and the donation may have to be postponed until the acute infection has subsided.

TPPA is the detection of Treponema pallidum, the pathogen responsible for syphilis. In case of a positive detection, no donor release can take place.

TSH is a messenger substance that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. Changes can occur in both hyperfunction and hypofunction of the thyroid gland (see also “thyroid diagnostics”). If you are already taking a thyroid hormone supplement, the TSH level is usually normal or decreased. If there is an increase, the amount of thyroid hormone prescribed is too low.

Urea is a degradation product of animal proteins. Increases are rather rare and must be interpreted with other kidney values.

Uric acid is a degradation product of food containing purine (e.g. meat and fish) but also of the body’s own cells. An increase is not uncommon and can lead to a gout seizure with appropriate predisposition and dietary errors. In peripheral stem cell donation, drug stimulation increases the number of leukocytes three to eight times above the norm. These cells must then be broken down again by the body. This produces uric acid. The pre-examining Cellex physicians decide individually whether you will receive a preventive medication (allopurinol) to lower the uric acid level in order to prevent a gout attack.

The urine status with the help of a test strip (quick test) gives an initial overview of the function of the kidney and the urinary tract. Protein may be elevated after physical exercise or in urinary tract infections. The strongest indication for a bacterial urinary tract infection is the detection of nitrite (degradation product of bacteria) and leukocytes. The detection of erythrocytes is very common in women because the detection method is very sensitive and therefore positive results occur long after visible menstruation has stopped. In men, the positive detection of erythrocytes is most often due to a disturbance of the test strip by food components. If the results are unclear, we will arrange for the test to be repeated by the family doctor or the donor.
In the urine sediment, solid and cellular components of urine are evaluated under the microscope. This information is used to interpret the urine status. For example, the detection of squamous epithelia (cells from the urethra) indicates faulty sample collection (mid-stream urine).

Varicella zoster is a herpesvirus and the causative agent of chicken pox. Some transplant centers require the detection of VZV before transplantation. The evidence is irrelevant to you.

West Nile virus is a disease transmissible by migratory birds that occurs in some countries of Eastern Europe and North America. Donors who were in these countries within four weeks before the donation in the period from June 1 to November 30 will be tested for this pathogen.