Cord Blood Cheat Sheet 2026
The 30 highest-yield Cord Blood facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.
- What is secondary graft failure after cord blood transplantation? → Loss of donor engraftment after initial successful engraftment
- What is the structure that serves as a transient organ to provide substance exchange between the mother and fetus. → placenta
- What is immune reconstitution and why is it critical after cord blood transplantation? → The gradual recovery of a functional immune system from donor stem cells after transplant
- What use does amniotic fluid serve? → acts as cushion to support and protect from mechanical shock
- True or False: Cord 's Blood Disorders of the immune system and blood can be treated with stem cells. → True
- Which organ contains the fetus' blood vessels? → umbilical cord
- What is the typical turnaround time from initiating a search to receiving a cord blood unit from a US public bank for a transplant? → 3–5 business days for an urgent shipment
- What is the minimum HLA match typically required for a cord blood unit to be considered for transplantation? → 4/6 match
- Which colony-forming unit assay is used to assess the functional potency of hematopoietic progenitors in a cord blood unit? → CFU-GM assay
- Which infectious complication is particularly concerning during the period of delayed immune reconstitution after cord blood transplant? → Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation
- Which HLA class presents intracellular peptides primarily to CD8+ cytotoxic T cells? → Class I (HLA-A, B, C)
- Before the blood is drawn, what happens to the umbilical cord? → clamped, cut, and cleaned
- What is chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and how does it differ from acute GVHD? → cGVHD occurs after 100 days and can mimic autoimmune diseases affecting multiple organs
- How are stem cells maintained? → In liquid nitrogen
- Which surface marker is most commonly used to identify and quantify hematopoietic stem cells in cord blood? → CD34+
- What is the average volume of cord blood collected from a single birth? → 60–80 mL
- On which chromosome is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which encodes HLA genes, located? → Chromosome 6
- What percentage of cord blood collections from full-term births typically meet the minimum cell count threshold for public banking? → About 20–30%
- Blood from the umbilical cord contains a variety of → Stem Cells
- What anticoagulant is pre-loaded in cord blood collection bags to prevent clotting? → Citrate phosphate dextrose (CPD)
- What is a 'permissive' HLA mismatch in cord blood transplantation? → A mismatch associated with acceptable clinical outcomes based on evidence
- Which form of childhood leukemia was one of the first diseases successfully treated with cord blood transplantation? → Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Which inborn error of metabolism involving fatty acid oxidation can be treated with cord blood transplantation to prevent neurological decline? → X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)
- Stem cells from cord blood are → Cells have the potential to differentiate into various types of cells in the body.
- When is cord blood collected relative to the birth process? → Before delivery of the placenta, immediately after the umbilical cord is clamped and cut
- What is the primary purpose of the density gradient centrifugation step in cord blood processing? → To separate mononuclear cells (including stem cells) from red blood cells and granulocytes
- What is the role of calcineurin inhibitors like cyclosporine or tacrolimus in cord blood transplantation? → They are used as GVHD prophylaxis by suppressing donor T-cell activation
- What is mixed chimerism following a cord blood transplant? → A mixture of both donor and recipient blood cells coexisting
- Approximately how many cord blood units are stored in public banks globally as of recent estimates? → Over 800,000 units
- How many illnesses and ailments are currently FDA-approved for regular cord blood stem cell treatment? → more than 80
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