Cord Blood Cord Blood Registry and Donation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What maternal eligibility criteria typically disqualify a mother from donating cord blood publicly?
- Having twins or a multiple pregnancy
- Active infections including HIV, hepatitis B/C, HTLV, or other transmissible diseases, or high-risk behaviors per infectious disease criteria (Correct answer)
- Being over age 30 at delivery
- Having had prior pregnancies
Correct answer: Active infections including HIV, hepatitis B/C, HTLV, or other transmissible diseases, or high-risk behaviors per infectious disease criteria
Mothers with active transmissible infections (HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV) or high-risk behaviors that increase infection risk are ineligible to donate cord blood to public banks to protect potential recipients.
Question 2: What is AABB accreditation in the context of cord blood banking?
- A bank rating system for financial stability
- Voluntary accreditation from a standards organization (formerly American Association of Blood Banks) that certifies cord blood bank quality and compliance (Correct answer)
- A government certification required only for private banks
- A clinical outcomes registry for cord blood transplants
Correct answer: Voluntary accreditation from a standards organization (formerly American Association of Blood Banks) that certifies cord blood bank quality and compliance
AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks) offers voluntary accreditation to cord blood banks that demonstrate compliance with published cord blood banking standards through on-site inspection.
Question 3: What is the NetCord-FACT international standard for cord blood banking?
- A European-only regulation with no US applicability
- An internationally recognized accreditation standard for cord blood banks that ensures quality, safety, and traceability globally (Correct answer)
- A standard for cord blood transplant centers only, not banks
- A trade organization for private cord blood companies
Correct answer: An internationally recognized accreditation standard for cord blood banks that ensures quality, safety, and traceability globally
NetCord-FACT is an international accreditation standard collaboratively developed by NetCord and FACT that sets requirements for cord blood bank quality systems applicable worldwide.
Question 4: What key information is included in a cord blood unit's listing in the international registry for transplant center searches?
- Only the unit volume and HLA type
- HLA typing, total nucleated cell count, CD34+ count, ABO/Rh type, CFU data, infectious disease status, and unit location (Correct answer)
- Only the donor's age and ethnicity
- Only the bank name and storage temperature
Correct answer: HLA typing, total nucleated cell count, CD34+ count, ABO/Rh type, CFU data, infectious disease status, and unit location
Registry listings include comprehensive data including HLA typing at multiple loci, cell count data (TNC, CD34+, CFU), ABO/Rh type, infectious disease testing results, and the unit's location for search and selection purposes.
Question 5: What is the minority representation challenge in cord blood banking and why does it matter?
- Minorities are overrepresented and banks have too many ethnically diverse units
- Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in public cord blood inventories, making it harder for minority patients to find adequately HLA-matched units (Correct answer)
- Minority donors are paid less for their donations
- Cord blood from minority donors has lower quality metrics
Correct answer: Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in public cord blood inventories, making it harder for minority patients to find adequately HLA-matched units
Ethnic minorities are significantly underrepresented in public cord blood banks, reducing the probability of finding HLA-matched units for minority patients who may need transplants.
Question 6: What is directed cord blood donation and when is it used?
- Donating cord blood to a random patient on a waitlist
- Donating cord blood for the specific use of a family member diagnosed with a condition treatable by cord blood transplant (Correct answer)
- A commercial service for storing cord blood in a family trust
- Donating cord blood to a research institution only
Correct answer: Donating cord blood for the specific use of a family member diagnosed with a condition treatable by cord blood transplant
Directed cord blood donation involves collecting and banking cord blood specifically for a known family member (such as a sibling) who has or may develop a condition treatable by cord blood transplantation.
Cord Blood Cord Blood Registry and Donation 2
What maternal eligibility criteria typically disqualify a mother from donating cord blood publicly?