JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH) in Jeddah has developed and implemented the world’s first single-session stem cell collection protocol, introducing a predictive algorithm that improves donor safety and enhances the efficiency of stem cell transplantation.

The protocol accurately estimates stem cell yield before collection, enabling the procedure to be completed in a single session for 100% of male donors and 94.9% of all donors, while eliminating the need for third and fourth collection sessions.

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Reducing repeat procedures is a major benefit, as data from the U.S. National Marrow Donor Program shows that additional collection sessions significantly increase the risk of donor hospitalization during recovery. By minimizing repeat collections, the protocol establishes a new global benchmark for balancing donor safety with treatment efficiency.

“Sparing healthy donors from repeated stem cell collection sessions is both a clinical and an ethical priority,” said Professor Ashraf Dada, Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at KFSH Jeddah and the study’s principal investigator

The innovation has also improved patient outcomes, with a 91.2% survival rate at 100 days after transplantation, exceeding the global average. The findings were published in Blood Global Hematology, a journal of the American Society of Hematology.

The breakthrough reinforces KFSH’s commitment to advancing specialized healthcare through data-driven innovation while strengthening its position as a global leader in stem cell transplantation and precision medicine.

Also read: Saudi Private Healthcare Records First Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Myeloma