Directed/Related Cord Blood Collection

by the National Blood Service

Jon Smythe PhD

Stem Cell and Immunotherapies Department
National Blood Service, NHSBT
Oxford

National Blood Service

Network of NBS Laboratories
involved with Cellular Therapies

Directed Cord Blood:

Oxford
Bristol
Birmingham
Leeds

Unrelated Banking:
London

National Blood Service

 Directed cord blood collection

• Defined by the EBMT classification of transplant procedures

(BMT 37 2006 439)

• Existing sibling suffers from malignant or

non-malignant disorder requiring transplant

• The collection is intended for future children of

same parents at risk of a specific genetic disease

• Requests initiated by hospitals caring for existing/previous

sibling and maternal consent obtained.

• Service level agreement signed by hospital and the NBS

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 Quality Assurance

• Human Tissue Authority Licence

• JACIE accreditation

• Guidelines for Blood Transfusion Services in UK.

• National Blood Service QA Dept.

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 Laboratory Aspects of DCB collection

• Maternal screening for mandatory markers <30 days to EDD

• Consent obtained from Obstetrician for collection to take place

• Organise delivery of the kit and discuss collection with midwives.

• Receive & cryopreserve cells with Dextran 40/Saline 10% DMSO

• Obtain WBC, volume, CD34+ count, (CFU), tissue typing,

RBC group, bacteriology and virology results.

• Prepare reports and request storage, discard or use for R&D

• Initial charge (£1,600) and then charge for continued storage

(5 yrs £1,000)

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The cord is cleaned and then blood is drained
into a bag with anti-coagulant via a line and needle

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All cells are processed in a GMP clean room where
filtered air and specialised clothing limit contamination

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 Collection details

• Cells not usually excluded from storage until the cord has been
processed and tissue typing completed

• 28% were shown to be a match for HLA A, B, Cw, DR and DQ.

• Contamination comparable to unrelated cord blood banks

• Mean volume and TNC counts comparable to unrelated banks

• Failed collection (2.9%) was mainly due to a damaged cord

and/or placenta

National Blood Service

 Collections by the NBS

• 350 DCB collections to date

• 84% for an existing sibling

• 50 for Beta Thalassaemia

• 10 for Sickle Cell Anaemia

• 10 Transplants for these groups

(Smythe et al. Stem Cells 25 2007 p2087)

National Blood Service

 New HTA regulations from 5th July 2008

• Maternity units that collect cord blood will need to act under a
HTA procurement licence.

• Cord Blood must be traceable from collection to use.

• Staff should have training in collecting cord blood.

• Procedures should be in place to avoid medical attention

being drawn away from the mother and baby.

National Blood Service

Thank You

National Blood Service