[Umbilical blood is a source of hemopoietic stem cells for transplantation]

To develop and introduce into practice scientifically validated methods of collection, testing and storage of hemopoietic stem cells of umbilical blood (UB) for non-relative transplantations.

UB and UB concentrate of 1004 mature newborns were studied with morphological, immunocytometric and cultural methods.

The established reference values of the number of leukocytes and hemopoietic stem cells (HSC) are essential for examination whether UB is useable for production of the transplantation material. Obtained with the procedure of UB concentration based on sedimentation of erythrocytes due to hydroxyethylstarch, transplantation material has volume 20.0 ml, contains 39.0 +/- 0.48 x 10(6)/ml leucocytes and 1.37 +/- 0.029% CD34+cells and does not differ from umbilical blood by percentage of basic subpopulations of leucocytes and HSC. Assessment of efficacy of leucoconcentration procedure in different pregnancy courses, delivery and technological stages of UB collection gives grounds to consider the methods optimal for use in UB bank, while testing is thought adequate for examination of the material for transplantation fitness.

Introduction of the study results into practice optimizes the work of stem cell banks and allows production of effective transplantation material.