title: Cord blood banking activities at a university hospital in northeast Mexico: an 8-year experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Umbilical cord blood (UCB) represents an alternative source of stem cells for transplantation for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and genetic disorders. There is scarce information detailing cord blood bank (CBB) collection and transplantation activities from developing countries. We documented our experience at a public university hospital in northeast Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a retrospective and descriptive analysis of our CBB activity during an 8-year period from May 2002 to September 2010. Collection, processing, and cryopreservation of CB were carried out following standard operating procedures. The minimum volume and total nucleated cell (TNC) content for cryopreservation were 80 mL and 8.0 × 10(8) , respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1256 UCB units were collected; 428 (34%) were banked and 828 (66%) were discarded. The main reason for exclusion was biologic: low volume and/or low number of TNC accounted for 84% of the total discarded units. Cryopreserved cord blood units (CBUs) had a median volume of 113.8 mL (range, 80-213.2 mL) and 13.0 × 10(8)  (range, 8 × 10(8) -36.6 × 10(8) ) TNCs. Cell viability was 99.3% (88-100%). The median CD34+ cell content was 4.0 × 10(6)  (0.46 × 10(6) -19.38 × 10(6) ). Sixteen units have been released for transplantation, leading to a utilization rate of 3.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBB demands considerable human and financial resources; it is then essential for centers at developing countries to share their experience, results, and databases to increase the probability of finding matching units for their patients. Efforts to create and maintain CBBs allow to offer this therapeutic option at an affordable cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Dr. José E. González University Hospital of the School of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico. carjaime@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jose C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jaime-Perez
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monreal-Robles
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colunga-Pedraza
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mancías-Guerra
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Romo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gómez-Almaguer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D015925:Cryopreservation; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods*