Cord blood processing with an automated and functionally closed system.
BACKGROUND
Umbilical cord blood processing with standard centrifugation techniques is performed in open systems and results in varying cell and volume recoveries.


METHODS
Forty umbilical cord blood donations were randomly assigned to processing either with a microprocessor-controlled cell separator equipped with closed disposables or with a manual separation procedure in blood bags. The collection efficiency of nucleated cells, MNCs, RBCs, and CD34+ cells and the processing time were analyzed.


RESULTS
Using the cell processor, mean collection efficiencies were 78.6 +/- 24.9 percent for nucleated cells, 77.4 +/- 27.8 percent for MNCs, 55.5 +/- 14.6 percent for RBCs, and 83.6 +/- 32.5 percent for CD34+ cells, while they were 73.1 +/- 13.2 percent for nucleated cells, 78.1 +/- 14.9 percent for MNCs, 26.0 +/- 12.2 percent for RBCs, and 77.0 +/- 17.6 percent for CD34+ cells when using the standard centrifugation technique. The processing time was about 20 minutes for automated processing and 60 to 80 minutes for the standard centrifugation technique.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the new cell processor, the collection efficiencies for nucleated cells, MNCs, and CD34+ cells are similar to those obtained by established centrifugation techniques while the RBC reduction is less effective. The main advantages of the new systems are the closed system, the more standardized processing procedure, and a significantly shorter processing time.
Zingsem
Jürgen
J
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hemostaseology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany. juergen.zingsem@trans.imed.uni-erlangen.de.
Strasser
Erwin
E
Weisbach
Volker
V
Zimmermann
Robert
R
Ringwald
Jürgen
J
Goecke
Tamme
T
Beckmann
Matthias Wilhelm
MW
Eckstein
Reinhold
R
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers
D018952:Antigens, CD34