apheresis

noun

aphe·​re·​sis ˌa-fə-ˈrē-səs 

plural aphereses ˌa-fə-ˈrē-ˌsēz 

: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more blood components (such as plasma, platelets, or white blood cells), and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor

called also pheresis

Examples of apheresis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This unique process begins with a biopsy of the patient’s tumor and apheresis to extract white blood cells. — William Mullane, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

An apheresis machine collects blood from donors and separates out the plasma before returning the remaining blood to the donors' bodies. — Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 12 Feb. 2026

After five days of shots to stimulate stem cell production, the donor is hooked up to an apheresis machine that takes the blood out of the body, collects the stem cells and then puts the blood back into the body. — Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025

In another May 6 video, Towle also updated followers on how the apheresis had gone prior to her going to receive chemotherapy. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

from -apheresis (as in plasmapheresis)

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for apheresis

• diathesis
• enuresis
• metathesis
• amniocentesis
• spondylolisthesis
• cytokinesis
• diaphoresis
• paracentesis
• plasmapheresis
• pollicis
• rhesus
• thesis

Medical Definition

apheresis

noun

aphe·​re·​sis

ˌa-fə-ˈrē-səs

plural aphereses -ˌsēz 

: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more components (as plasma, blood platelets, or white blood cells) from the blood, and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor

called also pheresis

see leukapheresis, plasmapheresis, plateletpheresis