A FAST ASSAY FOR DEVELOPING SERUM-FREE MEDIA FOR CORD-BLOOD HEMATOPOIETIC-CELLS

One of the bottlenecks in haematopoietic cell expansion is the lack of a defined serum free media. We describe a fast method of monitoring l ive haematopoietic cell numbers, using fluorescein diacetate, to facil itate the development of such a media. Several carbohydrates (fructose at 500 mu g/ml and pyruvate at 300 mu g/ml) and lipids (cholesterol a nd lecithin, both at 10 mu g/ml) were tested and could replace serum i n cord blood haematopoietic cell cultures.