[The probability of microbiological contamination during the collection and processing of umbilical cord blood]

To study the pathogens incidences in cord blood and the efficiency of different detective methods, 60 samples were drawn and reserved from collected and processed cord blood, respectively. The BACTEC 9050 system, improved Martin/thioglycollate broth (22 degrees C) and thioglycollate broth (35 degrees C) were employed to detected bacteria (including fungus) at the same time. Two hundred and six cord blood serum samples were used to detect the HBV DNA and HCV RNA by molecular biology technique, HBsAg, Anti-HBC, Anti-HCV, Anti-HCMV-IgM, HTLV-1, HTLV-2, HIV-1 and HIV-2 by ELISA and RBC agglutination test were used to detect the TPHA. Results showed that using BACTEC 9050 system, the incidence of bacteria and fungus was 3.33% and 0% respectively in collected cord blood; in processed cord blood, the rates increased to 6.67% and 1.67%, respectively. The sensitivity of BACTEC 9050 was higher than that of Martin/thioglycollate broth (22 degrees C/35 degrees C) culture. In 206 serum samples, the positive rate of HBV DNA was 5.8%, HCV RNA was 2.4%, HBsAg was 2.4%, HCMV-IgM was 1.89%, HCV was 2.4% and Anti-HBC was 29.4%. In those samples that Anti-HBC was positive, the positive rate of HBV DNA was 6.7%. It was concluded that the incidences of microbiological contamination in cord blood were high. The routine culture system would lead to false negative results of obligate anaerobes. It was necessary to replace the current culture system with improved system, such as BACTEC 9050 system. The molecular biology technique would make up for the default of ELISA.