apheresis

[ uh-fer-uh-sis af-uh-ree-sis ]

noun

1. Also the loss or omission of one or more letters or sounds at the beginning of a word, as in squire for esquire, or count for account.
2. Medicine/Medical. the withdrawal of whole blood from the body, separation of one or more components, and return by transfusion of remaining blood to the donor.

apheresis

/ ˌæfəˈrɛtɪk; əˈfɪərɪsɪs /

noun

1. the omission of a letter or syllable at the beginning of a word
2. a method of collecting blood from donors that enables its different components, such as the platelets or plasma, to be separated out

Derived Forms

• apheretic, adjective

Other Words From

• aph·e·ret·ic [af-, uh, -, ret, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apheresis¹

1605–15; < Late Latin aphaeresis < Greek aphaíresis a taking away, equivalent to aphairé ( în ) to take away ( ap- ap- ² + haireîn to snatch) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of apheresis¹

C17: via Late Latin from Greek, from aphairein to remove

Example Sentences

Long covid has also prompted people to travel in search of experimental treatments, including apheresis, or “blood washing,” to eliminate clots that have been associated with prolonged symptoms.

From Washington Post

People can donate platelets every seven days compared with every 56 days for whole blood donations and 112 days for apheresis red cells, aka Super Reds.

From Seattle Times

The treatment uses a process called apheresis to extract T cells from the patient and then genetically modifies the cells to add a receptor, the chimeric antigen, which binds with the cancer cells.

From Salon

However, there is, as yet, no published and peer reviewed evidence showing that apheresis and anticoagulation therapy reduce microclots.

From BBC

He was then plumbed into an apheresis machine to collect the stem cells from his blood.

From BBC