| Question |
Answer |
Comment |
| Why have my baby’s cord blood saved? |
For future need of the baby or any other family member with a good match. |
More cells are needed when the baby is older or for other older family members. |
| Can the banked cord blood be used when the baby or a matched family member needs it? |
Yes, only if the number of banked cells is high enough for a transplant. |
A sample of cord blood may be selected for transplant based on the number of transplantable cells per body weight of patient. |
| If the transplant is performed will it be successful? |
The chance of a successful transplant is higher when more cells are transplanted to a patient. |
The most important indicator of success is the number of cells transplanted. |
| Can we bank more cells? |
Yes, only if the cord blood is processed at a good cord blood bank since the available cells in cord blood are limited. |
Weaknesses of cord blood are smaller volume and limited number of available cells so saving more cells is crucial for future use. |
| What affects the number of cells saved? |
Factor |
Determined by |
|
| |
Collection |
Physician/placenta/umbilical cord |
Good collection procedure |
| |
Processing |
Cord blood bank (cell loss is up to 60%) |
Significantly different between cord blood banks. |
| |
Cryopreservation (freezing) |
Cord blood bank
(extra cell loss of up to 31% resulting from a high concentration of contaminating red blood cells) |
Significantly different between cord blood banks. |
| |
Long-term storage in liquid nitrogen freezers |
0.025% cell loss per year |
Not significantly different between cord blood banks as long as the cells are stored in a liquid nitrogen freezer. |
| What should a good cord blood bank do? |
Based on published information from scientific and clinical journals:
- Obtain a higher yield (recovery rate) of total nucleated cells
- Obtain a lower concentration of contaminating red blood cells
(avoid cell death (up to 31%) that can be caused by a high concentration of contaminating red blood cells during the freezing process)
|
It is difficult to reach both goals since nucleated cells are mixed with red blood cells during separation so different banks get different results. |
| How do we know what we get from the cord blood bank? |
The bank should prove it with something in writing rather than verbal promises. |
A certificate with a guarantee should be preferred. |
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