Cord Blood Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the Cord Blood exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📚 Cord Blood Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample Cord Blood Questions & Answers
1. What is post-thaw viability testing and what minimum percentage is generally considered acceptable?
Post-thaw viability testing uses dye exclusion or flow cytometry to measure the percentage of living cells after thawing a cord blood unit, with most standards requiring at least 85% viability.
2. This object is a strong, thin membrane that creates a sac around the developing fetus in the uterus.
The amnion is a strong, thin membrane that forms the innermost sac around the developing fetus. This sac, filled with amniotic fluid, provides a protective environment for the fetus, cushioning it and allowing for proper development. It is distinct from the placenta or umbilical cord, which have different functions.
3. What key advocacy role does the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) play in expanding cord blood access?
The NMDP operates Be The Match registry and the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, maintaining cord blood inventories, facilitating donor-patient matching, and advocating for policies expanding cord blood access.
4. What is the typical time to neutrophil engraftment following a cord blood transplant compared to bone marrow transplant?
Neutrophil engraftment after cord blood transplant typically takes 21–28 days or longer, compared to 14–21 days for bone marrow, due to the lower cell dose in cord blood.
5. Compared to bone marrow stem cells, cord blood stem cells have which key proliferative advantage?
Cord blood stem cells have longer telomeres than adult bone marrow stem cells, giving them superior self-renewal capacity and proliferative potential.
6. What use does amniotic fluid serve?
Amniotic fluid surrounds the developing fetus within the amniotic sac. Its primary function is to provide a protective cushion, shielding the fetus from external mechanical shocks and impacts. It also allows for fetal movement and helps regulate temperature, creating a stable environment for growth.