Cord Blood Banking Question and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many cord blood units can one freezer hold?
- 2000
- 3000
- 3500
- 3600 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 3600
Cord blood banks utilize specialized cryogenic freezers designed for long-term storage of biological samples at extremely low temperatures. These large freezers are engineered to maximize storage efficiency while maintaining optimal conditions for cell viability. A typical large-capacity freezer in a cord blood bank can hold approximately 3600 cord blood units, allowing for efficient and secure preservation of these valuable stem cell resources.
Question 2: The containers used to store the cord blood are kept at - ___ degrees Fahrenheit.
- 100
- 300 (Correct answer)
- 200
- 400
Correct answer: 300
For long-term preservation, cord blood units are stored cryogenically in specialized containers at extremely low temperatures. These containers are typically kept in liquid nitrogen vapor phase, maintaining temperatures around -196°C, which is approximately -320°F. The option of -300 degrees Fahrenheit is the closest approximation, ensuring the metabolic activity of the stem cells is halted to preserve their viability for decades.
Question 3: What are the three basic steps involved in banking cord blood?
- collection, processing, precreating
- collaborating, processing, preservation
- collection, processing, preservation (Correct answer)
- collection, producing, preservation
Correct answer: collection, processing, preservation
The process of banking cord blood involves three fundamental steps to ensure the viability and long-term storage of the stem cells. First, the cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord after birth. Next, it undergoes processing in a lab to isolate and concentrate the valuable stem cells. Finally, the processed stem cells are prepared for preservation through cryopreservation, typically in liquid nitrogen, for future therapeutic use.
Question 4: The transfer and protection of the blood stem cells take place in a ______.
- body
- box
- bag
- cooler (Correct answer)
Correct answer: cooler
After collection, the cord blood unit, contained within a sterile collection bag, is immediately placed into a specialized cooler for transport to the processing laboratory. This cooler is designed to maintain the blood at an optimal temperature, typically ambient or refrigerated, to protect the delicate stem cells from temperature fluctuations and ensure their viability during transit. Proper temperature control is crucial for successful processing and preservation.
Question 5: Before the blood is drawn, what happens to the umbilical cord?
- clamped, cut, and cleaned (Correct answer)
- clamped, squished, and cleaned
- chopped, cut, and cleaned
- clamped, cut, and cleared
Correct answer: clamped, cut, and cleaned
Before cord blood can be drawn for banking, the umbilical cord undergoes a specific preparation process to ensure sterility and facilitate collection. First, the cord is clamped in two places, then cut between the clamps, separating the baby from the placenta. Finally, the remaining cord segment attached to the placenta is cleaned to prevent contamination before the blood is collected.
Question 6: Progenitor cells are those...
- don't build tissue.
- find the breakdown of muscle and repair it.
- have already made the decision to be one type of cell. (Correct answer)
- help stem cells.
Correct answer: have already made the decision to be one type of cell.
Progenitor cells are a type of cell that is more differentiated than a stem cell but not yet fully mature. Unlike pluripotent stem cells, progenitor cells have already committed to a specific cell lineage, meaning they 'have already made the decision to be one type of cell.' While they can still divide and differentiate, their developmental potential is more restricted, leading them to become specific types of cells within a particular tissue or organ.
Question 7: How are stem cells maintained?
- In ice
- In liquid nitrogen (Correct answer)
- In liquid oxygen
- In solid nitrogen
Correct answer: In liquid nitrogen
For long-term storage and to maintain their viability, stem cells are preserved through a process called cryopreservation. This involves freezing them at extremely low temperatures, typically in liquid nitrogen, which is around -196°C (-320°F). At these ultra-low temperatures, all biological activity is effectively halted, allowing the stem cells to remain viable for decades without degradation, ready for future therapeutic use.
Cord Blood Banking Question and Answers
How many cord blood units can one freezer hold?