title: Relocation of cryopreserved umbilical cord blood samples using a high-capacity dry shipper to a new laboratory: a cord blood banking experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Processed umbilical cord blood (UCB) must be stored at cryogenic temperature at all times to maintain the quality and viability of the cells. However, a challenge is presented in the form of moving a large number of cryopreserved UCB samples to a new location. In this report, we share our experience on relocating more than 100,000 units of cryopreserved UCB samples stored in 12 liquid nitrogen freezers (LNFs) to our new laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  For quality control purposes, 2 weeks before relocation, donor UCB samples were processed, cryopreserved, and stored in each LNF. On relocation day, half of the samples were retrieved to determine total nucleated cell count, percentage of CD34+ cells, and cell viability as controls for later comparison. UCB samples were transferred into dry shippers before being relocated to the new laboratory. Upon arrival, LNFs were serviced before transferring UCB samples back into its original location within the LNF. The remaining donor UCB samples were retrieved and analyzed for the same tests mentioned.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no significant differences in pre- and postrelocation values of the tests performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All UCB samples were successfully relocated into the new laboratory without affecting the quality.
authors.affiliation: Cryocord, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kalaivani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thiagarajah
authors.affiliation: Cytopeutics, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chee-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Cryocord, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Vickneswary Veera
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Vijayan
authors.affiliation: Cryocord, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ghee-Chien
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.affiliation: Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Mei-Theng
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Bandar Sungai Long, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Soon-Keng
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: Cryocord, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kong-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Then
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34