[Comparison of the selected methods of cord processing for transplantation purposes]

Human umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been successfully used as a source of allogeneic hematopoietic cells for transplantation. Banking of the UCB requires its volume reduction to decrease storage space, costs and volume of infused DMSO. In order to select an optimal method for volume reduction we compared several methods of cord blood processing, namely buffy coat centrifugation, red cell lysis, hydroxyethyl starch (HES)-, methylcellulose- and gelatin-sedimentations. The viability of cells and the recoveries of total white blood cells, mononuclear cells and CD34+ cells was evaluated. We also compared the efficacy of red cells depletion from the original UCB sample. Buffy coat centrifugation, red cell lysis, HES, gelatin or methylcellulose resulted in high mononuclear cell recoveries, whereas high hematopoietic cell recovery was observed only after HES sedimentation and buffy coat processing. The HES sedimentation procedure compared to buffy coat processing is more time and labor consuming and resulted in higher red blood cell and platelets depletion. Both methods can be recommended as a method at choice for the umbilical cord blood processing before banking.