Ethnic diversity and cord blood banking: satisfying the unmet need.

Background Aims: In this study, the authors sought to assess whether cord blood units (CBUs) collected from donors of non-European ethnic backgrounds are utilized for umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) at a different rate than those of European ethnic backgrounds. The authors also examined potential methods of enriching these under-represented ethnic backgrounds in cord blood bank (CBB) inventories without increasing financial overheads and without compromising total inventory utilization or post-transplant outcomes.

Methods: Data from N = 6506 searchable or shipped Anthony Nolan Cell Therapy Centre grafts were used in this study.

Predictive analytics and cord blood banking: toward utilization-based unit selection.

Background Aims: Total nucleated cell (TNC) and CD34+ cell doses are considered among the most important parameters when assessing the suitability of a human leukocyte antigen-matched cord blood unit (CBU) for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Cord blood banks therefore frequently select CBUs for cryopreservation based on pre-process TNC content. However, cell loss during processing can lead to a significant quantity of CBUs that do not meet desired post-process quality criteria, and such grafts are less likely to be selected by transplant centers for HSCT.