When parents choose to bank umbilical cord blood (UCB), they do so with the expectation that this stem cell–richproduct will be available to treat conditions like leukemia, lymphoma and anemia, should the need arise. The number of stem cells that persist in each UCBunit is limited, rendering the maintenance of cell viability a critical issue for the biobanking industry.
Dulugiac et al.1 recently evaluated endogenous (e.g., total nucleated cell count [TNCC], CD34+ cell count) and exogenous (e.g., elapsed time from collection to processing, collected UCB volume) factors. Using this data, they drew correlations between these factors and cell viability within a standardized biobanking protocol.
To do this, the team collected 3,000 UCB units via umbilical vein puncture and stored these in 35 mL bags containing an anticoagulant. They processed these samples usinghydroxyethyl starchsedimentation within a 48-hour window before applying flow cytometry to assess total cell viability, TNCC and CD34+ cell count.
The overall range for pre-freeze cell viability was 61.86% to 99.5%, with a mean value of 94.37 ± 4.67%. Of the evaluated UCB units, 95.14% presented cell viability above 85%.
The team reported a significant negative correlation between cell viability and elapsed processing time; cell viability decreased when collection-to-processing time increased. They indicated 19.79 ± 8.71 hours to be the mean processing time, with 99.86% of the samples processed within the expected 48-hour timeframe.
Mean cell viability per timeframe
0–12 hours (548 units) | 12–24 hours (1,535 units) | 24–36 hours (808 units) | 36–48 hours (105 units) | 48–75 hours (4 units) |
98.12% | 94.97% | 92.06% | 84.54% | 75.32% |
The authors found a positive correlation between cell viability and increasing sample volume. The range of collected volume for the UCB samples was 15.2 mL to 202 mL, with a mean of 80.23 ± 28.52 mL. Samples with <80 mL volume had lower cell viability, while samples with >80 mL volume showed no significant differences.
Mean cell viability per volume collected
<40 mL (172 units) | 40–80 mL (1,400 units) | 80–120 mL (1,155 units) | 120–160 mL (246 units) | 160–202 mL (27 units) |
89.26% | 94.04% | 95.31% | 95.32% | 94.81% |
When examining the impact of the exogenous factors combined, the team found that regardless of collected volume, units processed within 12 hours showed similar cell viability.As elapsed time from collection to processing increased from 12 hours to 48 hours, cell viability decreased, with the most marked drop evident in samples with low volume (<80 mL).
Decrease in cell viability per volume over time, when samples processed within 12 hours are compared to samples processed at 48 hours
<40 mL | 40–80 mL | >80 mL |
20.54% decrease | 15.18% decrease | 3–10% decrease |
On the other hand, the team found that the endogenous factors they evaluated did not significantly impact cell viability. The TNCC values ranged from4.72×107to 538.7×107, with a mean value of 73.17 ± 36.73×107. They report no correlation between elapsed time and TNCC counts. They note only a very minor positive correlation between TNCC values and cell viability. The range of CD34+ counts was0.09×106to 35.89×106, with a mean value of 2.61 ± 2.29×106. They report no correlation between elapsed time and CD34+ values. They found only a very low positive correlation between CD34+ counts and cell viability, particularly at the lower end of the CD34+ values (<0.5×106).
Overall, Dulugiac et al. report that the exogenous factors—elapsed time and collected volume—impact cell viability significantly. When it comes to optimizing industry standards for biobanking of UCB, these findings may help focus control parameters for maximum cell viability.
1 Dulugiac, M., et al. (2014) “Factors which can influence the quality related to cell viabilityof the umbilical cord blood units,”Transfusion and Apheresis Science, doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.08.019.
FAQs
If your parents stored your cord blood privately when you were born, you could in theory have access to a supply of your own blood stem cells later in life (although it is worth noting that the longest cord blood stem cells have been stored with the cells still found to be viable is 20 years).
What is the main disadvantage of using umbilical cord blood stem cells? ›
The umbilical cord contains a small amount of cord blood. Sometimes there isn't enough for a stem cell transplant into an older child or adult. Also, stem cells from cord blood may take longer to start making blood cells than stem cells from bone marrow stem cells.
What characteristics of umbilical cord blood makes it useful in treating certain diseases? ›
Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a rich source of hematopoietic cells that can be used to replace bone marrow components. Many blood disorders and systemic illnesses are increasingly being treated with stem cells as regenerative medical therapy.
How umbilical cord blood can save someone's life? ›
Stem cells are special 'building block' cells in the body that can develop into many different types of cell. Blood-producing stem cells are found in cord blood, and when a cord blood donation is given to someone in need of life-saving treatment, can develop into the type of blood cell that the patient's body needs.
How long are cord blood cells viable? ›
The stored blood can't always be used, even if the person develops a disease later on, because if the disease was caused by a genetic mutation, it would also be in the stem cells. Current research says the stored blood may be useful for only 15 years.
Is it worth keeping umbilical cord blood? ›
Doctors do not recommend that you bank cord blood on the slight chance that your baby will need stem cells someday. If your baby were to need stem cells, he or she would probably need stem cells from someone else rather than his or her own stem cells.
What are the properties of the umbilical cord blood? ›
Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord connected to the placenta after childbirth. Cord blood contains all the normal elements of blood - red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. But it is also rich in stem cells, similar to those found in the bone marrow.
What is an advantage of umbilical cord blood for stem cells? ›
Umbilical cord blood offers advantages over bone marrow because cord blood does not require perfect human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue matching, has less incidence of graft vs host disease, and may be used allogenically (11,12).
Why is umbilical cord blood important? ›
Umbilical cord blood contains blood-forming stem cells, which can renew themselves and differentiate into other types of cells. Stem cells are used in transplants for patients with cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Cord Blood can be used to treat over 80 other life- threatening diseases.
What do hospitals do with umbilical cord blood? ›
If a mother chooses to have her cord blood collected, the health care team will do so after the baby is born. With a sterile needle, they'll draw the blood from the umbilical vessels into a collection bag. The blood is packaged and sent to a cord blood bank for long-term storage.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say that there's not enough evidence to recommend routine private cord blood banking, except in unique circ*mstances: If a first- or second-degree relative is in need of a stem cell transplant (because of a blood disorder ...
What type of stem cells are in umbilical cord blood? ›
The umbilical cord contains a rich source of haematopoietic stem cells that can be used to reconstitute the blood system and can easily be extracted and cryopreserved, thus allowing for the establishment of HLA-typed stem cell banks.
What is the success rate of umbilical cord blood? ›
Results of related cord blood transplants for children with malignancies have been summarized by Eurocord. In 147 patients, most with acute leukemia, the cumulative incidence of neutrophil recovery was 90%, and the incidences of acute and chronic GVHD were 12% and 10% at 2 years, respectively.
Is umbilical cord blood discarded after birth? ›
After your baby is born, the umbilical cord and placenta are usually thrown away. Because you are choosing to donate, the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta will be collected and tested. Cord blood that meets standards for transplant will be stored at the public cord blood bank until needed by a patient.
Can cord blood be used for the same child? ›
While cord blood stored at birth is a 100% match for the child, in cases of certain genetic diseases, utilizing cells from a donor, whether a relative or unrelated individual without the same genetic mutations, is required.
Why is cord blood so valuable? ›
How does umbilical cord blood help save lives? Umbilical cord blood contains blood-forming stem cells, which can renew themselves and differentiate into other types of cells. Stem cells are used in transplants for patients with cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.
When parents choose to bank umbilical cord blood (UCB), they do so with the expectation that this stem cell–richproduct will be available to treat conditions like leukemia, lymphoma and anemia, should the need arise. The number of stem cells that persist in each UCBunit is limited, rendering the maintenance of cell viability a critical issue for the biobanking industry. 