Umbilical cord blood processing using Prepacyte-CB increases haematopoietic progenitor cell availability over conventional Hetastarch separation.
BACKGROUND
Currently the most frequently used method for umbilical cord blood separation in many hospitals across the UK and the rest of the world, where small-to-medium amounts of samples are processed, is Hetastarch, a mechanical, starch-based method, which causes red cell agglutination by rouleaux formation.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, a novel method (Prepa-Cyte-CB), in comparison with Hetastarch as part of an FDA-approved clinical study, was evaluated.


METHODS
Validation of data included recovery of nucleated and CD34+ cells, red blood cell reduction, colony forming unit potential, flow cytometric analysis and sterility tests.


RESULTS
PrepaCyte-CB, in comparison with Hetastarch offers fast, reliable separation with improved recovery of nucleated cells, 72.03% (+/-8.48 SD) compared to 58.09% (+/-20.06 SD), and CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells, 76% (+/-19.54 SD) compared to 64.19% (+/-29.77 SD). PrepaCyte-CB was also 12-fold more efficient in removing red blood cells and haemoglobin (P < 0.001) than Hetastarch.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that PrepaCyte-CB offers superior separation of UCB when compared to Hetastarch.
Basford
C
C
Newcastle Centre for Cord Blood, Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Forraz
N
N
Habibollah
S
S
Hanger
K
K
McGuckin
C P
CP
D000906:Antibodies; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives
D000906:Antibodies; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives