Transfusion. 2017 Aug 23. doi: 10.1111/trf.14290. [Epub ahead of print]

Comparison of human umbilical cord blood processing with or without hydroxyethyl starch.

Souri M¹, Nikougoftar Zarif M¹, Rasouli M², Golzadeh K¹, Nakhlestani Hagh M¹, Ezzati N¹, Atarodi K¹.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) processing with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is the most common protocol in the cord blood banks. The quality of UCB volume reduction was guaranteed by minimum manipulation of cord blood samples in the closed system. This study aimed to analyze and compare cell recovery and viability of UCB processed using the Sepax automated system in the presence and absence of HES.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:

Thirty UCB bags with a total nucleated cell (TNC) count of more than 2.5 × 10⁹ were divided in two bags with equal volume. HES solution was added to one bag and another was intact. Both bags were processed with the Sepax. To determine cell recovery, viability, and potential of colony-forming cells (CFCs), preprocessing, postprocessing, and thawing samples were analyzed.

RESULTS:

The mean TNC recovery after processing and after thaw was significantly better with the HES method (p < 0.01 for the postprocessing step and p < 0.05 for the postthaw step). There were no significant differences to mononucleated cells (MNCs) and CD34+ cell recovery between the two methods after processing and after thaw. TNC and MNC viability was significantly higher without HES after processing and after thaw (p < 0.01). The results of the CFC assay were similar for both methods after processing and after thaw.

CONCLUSION:

These results showed that processing of UCB using the Sepax system with the without-HES protocol due to the lower manipulation of samples could be used as an eligible protocol to reduce the volume of UCB.

© 2017 AABB.