Storage characteristics of cord blood progenitor cells: report of a multicenter study by the cellular therapies team of the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative.
BACKGROUND
Most hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) products are infused or processed shortly after collection, but in some cases this may be delayed for up to 48 hours. A number of variables such as temperature and cell concentration are of critical importance for the integrity of HPCs during this time.


METHODS
We evaluated critical variables using cord blood HPC units that were divided equally and stored at 4 °C versus room temperature (RT) for up to 96 hours. Total nucleated cell (TNC) and mononuclear cell (MNC) counts, viable CD34+ cell counts, and CD45+ cell viability as well as colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) present over time at each temperature were determined.


RESULTS
Overall, the data indicate that with the exception of viable CD34+ cells, there was a significant decrease in each variable measured for 72 to 96 hours and, with the exception of viable CD34+ cells and CFU-GM, the reductions were significantly greater in RT units than 4 °C units. There was an increase in viable CD34+ count for units where TNC count was greater than 8.5 × 10(9) /L, compared with units where TNC count was less than 8.5 × 10(9) /L, that was different for each storage temperature.


CONCLUSIONS
Cord blood HPC collections maintained at 4 °C retained higher TNC counts, MNC counts, and CD45+ cell viability over a 72- to 96-hour storage period.
Bristol Institute for Transfusion Sciences and Division of Statistics and Clinical Audit, NHS Blood and Transplant, Bristol, UK. derwood.pamphilon@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Derwood
D
Pamphilon
Elinor
E
Curnow
Helen
H
Belfield
Jo-Anna
JA
Reems
John
J
McMannis
Lucilla
L
Lecchi
Zbigniew
Z
Szczepiorkowski
David
D
McKenna
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D055014:Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013696:Temperature
D018952:Antigens, CD34