Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated via Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. Includes T cells, B cells, NK cells, and monocytes. Fresh or cryopreserved from AI-matched donors for immunology, cell therapy, and vaccine research.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are a heterogeneous mixture of immune cells isolated from whole blood by density gradient centrifugation. The population includes T lymphocytes (CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic), B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, and dendritic cell precursors. Red blood cells and granulocytes — which have a higher buoyant density — are excluded during the Ficoll separation step.
The standard isolation protocol layers anticoagulated blood over Ficoll-Paque (density ~1.077 g/mL) and centrifuges at 400–800 × g for 30–40 minutes. PBMCs accumulate at the interface between the Ficoll layer and the plasma, while erythrocytes and neutrophils pellet at the bottom. The buffy coat interface is then harvested, washed twice with PBS, counted, and assessed for viability before delivery or cryopreservation.
When you buy PBMCs for research, processing time is critical — isolation should begin within 4–6 hours of blood draw to preserve viability and functional integrity. Helio Research coordinates collection and processing to meet this window consistently.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Typical Yield | 1–3 × 10⁶ cells/mL blood (donor-variable); 30–60 mL draw yields 30–180 × 10⁶ PBMCs |
| Isolation Method | Ficoll-Paque density gradient centrifugation (400–800 × g, 30–40 min) |
| Processing Time | 2–4 hours from blood draw to final product |
| Viability | >90% by trypan blue exclusion (fresh); >75–85% post-thaw (cryopreserved) |
| Storage | Fresh: ambient media, overnight delivery. Cryo: liquid nitrogen vapor phase (-150°C to -196°C) |
| Cryopreservation | 10% DMSO in 90% FBS, or CryoStor CS10 upon request |
| Documentation | Cell count, viability, processing timestamps, donor demographics, HLA type (on request), IRB consent |
Specify cell count needed, fresh vs. cryopreserved format, donor criteria (age, sex, disease state, HLA type), and any downstream assay requirements that affect processing protocol.
Our system matches donors to your criteria and coordinates blood draw and immediate processing. HLA typing, CMV status, and other immune parameters are available for filtering.
Fresh PBMCs ship same day overnight. Cryopreserved specimens ship on dry ice. Each lot includes viability data, cell count, and full processing documentation.
Fresh PBMCs processed within 4–6 hours of collection consistently achieve >90% viability by trypan blue exclusion. Lots below 85% viability are not shipped. Cryopreserved PBMCs recover at 75–90% post-thaw depending on donor, cryoprotectant protocol, and thaw technique. We provide viability data with every lot.
Fresh PBMCs can be shipped overnight in AIM-V or RPMI without serum for next-day delivery within the continental US — viability window is approximately 24 hours at ambient temperature in shipping media. For studies requiring longer storage, international shipment, or lot banking, cryopreservation in 10% DMSO/90% FBS or CryoStor CS10 is recommended.
Yes. We maintain HLA typing data for a subset of our donor pool and can filter by specific Class I or Class II alleles for peptide-MHC tetramer staining, T cell epitope mapping, or transplant research. HLA-typed specimens carry a modest premium — submit your allele requirements and we'll confirm availability.
Submit your protocol requirements and receive a quote within 24 hours.
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