Cord Blood Banking 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which financial structure do most private cord blood banks use to fund long-term storage costs?
- Government grants tied to research use
- Upfront processing fees combined with annual storage fees (Correct answer)
- Insurance reimbursements from health plans
- Endowment funds established by hospital systems
Correct answer: Upfront processing fees combined with annual storage fees
Private banks typically charge a one-time collection and processing fee ($1,500–$2,500) plus annual storage fees ($100–$300) to cover ongoing operational costs.
Question 2: A physician recommends cord blood banking to a family with a child who has leukemia. Which banking type is most appropriate?
- Standard public donation
- Directed donation or private banking for a sibling match (Correct answer)
- Hybrid banking
- Delayed cord clamping combined with partial collection
Correct answer: Directed donation or private banking for a sibling match
When there is an existing sick sibling who may need a transplant, directed donation or private banking ensures the unit is reserved and accessible for that specific patient.
Question 3: Which statement about delayed cord clamping and cord blood collection is accurate?
- Delayed clamping has no effect on cord blood volume
- Delayed clamping increases blood flow to the infant, reducing the volume available for banking (Correct answer)
- Delayed clamping is recommended by cord blood banks to improve unit quality
- FDA requires a minimum delay of 5 minutes before collection
Correct answer: Delayed clamping increases blood flow to the infant, reducing the volume available for banking
Delayed cord clamping allows more blood to transfer to the newborn, which is beneficial for the infant but reduces the volume available for cord blood banking.
Question 4: What does 'viable CD34+ cell recovery' measure when a cord blood unit is thawed before transplant?
- The percentage of red blood cells remaining after thaw
- The proportion of CD34+ cells still alive and functional after cryopreservation (Correct answer)
- The HLA match score between donor and recipient
- The volume of DMSO removed during washing
Correct answer: The proportion of CD34+ cells still alive and functional after cryopreservation
Post-thaw viability of CD34+ cells confirms the unit retained functional stem cells through the freeze-thaw cycle, which predicts engraftment success.
Question 5: Under which circumstance is an autologous cord blood transplant NOT a valid option?
- The patient develops aplastic anemia
- The patient develops a genetic disease present at birth, such as sickle cell disease (Correct answer)
- The patient requires treatment after chemotherapy
- The patient needs a bone marrow boost following radiation therapy
Correct answer: The patient develops a genetic disease present at birth, such as sickle cell disease
Autologous units cannot treat genetic diseases present at birth because the cord blood carries the same genetic defect as the patient's existing cells.
Question 6: Which professional organization publishes evidence-based guidelines advising against routine private cord blood banking for low-risk families?
- American Red Cross
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (Correct answer)
- March of Dimes
- National Cord Blood Program
Correct answer: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The AAP's policy statement advises that private banking for low-risk families is unlikely to be used and should not be marketed as biological insurance without a specific medical indication.
Question 7: A cord blood bank's inventory management system must track a unit from collection to release. This chain-of-custody requirement is part of which regulatory standard?
- OSHA bloodborne pathogen rules
- FDA 21 CFR Part 1271 current Good Tissue Practice (cGTP) (Correct answer)
- CMS Conditions of Participation
- CLIA laboratory testing standards
Correct answer: FDA 21 CFR Part 1271 current Good Tissue Practice (cGTP)
FDA 21 CFR Part 1271 cGTP regulations require cord blood banks to maintain complete traceability records documenting every handling step from donor to recipient.
Cord Blood Banking 5
Which financial structure do most private cord blood banks use to fund long-term storage costs?