Cord blood banking: Volume reduction using "Procord" Terumo filter

Cryopreserved cord blood (CB) banking, space storage, and ABO major incompa tibility transfusion as well as potential progenitor cell loss during proce ssing, are the subjects of this study. We evaluate processing of fresh and thawed CB on "Procord" (Terumo Corp., Japan). On 16 freshed CBs, mean NC, C D34, CPU-GM yields were, respectively, 54% (SD +/- 20), 75% (SD +/- 25), an d 171% (SD +/- 168) in a final volume of 20 mi. Final product was enriched in mononuclear cells (mean 69% granulocytes depletion) with reproducible er ythrocyte and platelet depletions means of 97% (SD +/- 1.5) and 93% (SD +/- 8). On seven previous whole frozen CB units, Procord gave comparable red b lood cell (98%) depletion with 53% (SD +/- 30) mean CD34 recovery. Procord is an efficient method for erythrocyte depletion of CB, and recoveries of N C and progenitor cells are comparable to those obtained with similar proces sing. Nevertheless, as all existing methods, it is associated with cell and progenitor cell loss.