CD34⁺ cell content in unrelated allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell grafts transported internationally. Does the inter-laboratory variability affect comparability of graft quality data?

Background: Increasing numbers of unrelated hematopoietic stem cell grafts are transported internationally and evaluated concurrently in different laboratories. The graft quality assessment using the CD34(+) enumeration could be influenced by inter-laboratory variability.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the content of CD34(+) cells in 154 consecutive collections being performed in different transplant centers during two periods (2003-2004, 2007-2010).