title: Collection, processing and testing of bone, corneas, umbilical cord blood and haematopoietic stem cells by European Blood Alliance members.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A questionnaire study was carried out in collaboration with the European Blood Alliance (EBA) Tissues and Cells (T&C) working group. The aim was to assess the level of involvement and commonality of processes on the procurement, testing and storage of bone, corneas, umbilical cord blood (UCB) and haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in order to identify different practices and to explore whether recommendations can be made for harmonization.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online questionnaire was used for data collection in 2011, and 43 replies were received covering 71 product answers from 13 countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimated percentages of tissue and cell banking covered by EBA member blood banks as a proportion of all collections of each individual country varied markedly. There were also major differences in the amounts of products collected and discarded and in proportions tissues provided for grafting. However, discarding of certain collections also reflects the practice of increasing the likelihood of the very best units being used for transplantation. Harmonization of possible practices should focus on matching supply with demand and on identifying the most efficient operators. This could allow for the development of practices for minimizing unnecessary collections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Technology, Aalto University School of Chemical Technology, Microbiology Research Group, Espoo, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Närhi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Natri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Desbois
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kinggaard Holm
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aranko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nordstrom
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D001842:Bone and Bones; D003315:Cornea; D005060:Europe; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods
keywords: EBA; bone; corneas; haematopoietic stem cells; umbilical cord blood