Glossary
Adult Stem Cells
Adult Stem Cells are stem cells present in a developed individual (this includes babies as well as adults). Cord blood stem cells are adult stem cells and are NOT Embryonic Stem Cells which are derived from embryo’s. The function of adult stem cells is to repair and maintain various types of body tissue.
Allogeneic Use
Cord Blood stem cells that are collected from one child (the donor) and transfused into a different person (the recipient). Public cord blood banks collected for allogeneic use only. Prior to allogeneic use the donor and the recipient need to be tested to ensure that they have a compatible HLA match.
Autologous Use
Cord Blood stem cells that are collected and then re-infused into the same person that the cells were collected from.
Bone Marrow
Bone marrow is a special, spongy, fatty tissue that houses stem cells, located inside a few large bones. These stem cells transform themselves into white and red blood cells and platelets, essential for immunity and circulation. In humans, marrow in large bones produces new blood cells through a process called Haematopoiesis.
CD34
CD34 molecule is a cluster of differentiation molecules present on certain cells within the human body. It is a cell surface glycoprotein and functions as a cell-cell adhesion factor. It may also mediate the attachment of stem cells to bone marrow extracellular matrix or directly to stromal cells. CD34 is also the name for the human gene that encodes the protein.
The aim of CD34+ cell enumeration is to provide a measure for the number of haemopoietic stem cells present in cell preparations (e.g. bone marrow, mobilised peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood) intended for transplantation.
CD34+ cell enumeration is performed for each cord blood sample banked with Cryosite.
Cell Viability
Cell viability is a determination of living or dead cells, based on a total cell sample. CD34+ cell viability is performed for each cord blood sample banked with Cryosite.
Contamination
Childbirth is not a sterile process and although the doctor takes all possible measures to minimise the risk of bacterial contamination of the cord blood unit during the collection process, a small number of cord blood samples will return a positive culture result. Bacteria can enter the cord blood collection bag on small sections of umbilical tissue that can be excised by the collection needle during the collection process.
Cord Blood
Cord blood is blood that remains in the placenta and in the attached umbilical cord after childbirth. Cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord at the time of childbirth.
Cord Blood & Biorepository Manager
Responsible for all operational aspects of all procedures related to receipt, testing, processing, cryopreservation, storage, release for shipment of cord blood units, and administrative operations of the cord blood bank , including compliance with Netcord FACT standards. The CB&BSM participates in educational activities in appropriate educational activities.
Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation refers to the storage of a living organism at ultra- low-temperature such that it can be revived and restored to the same living state as before it was stored. Indefinitely long storage times require that the organism be maintained below the glass transformation temperature of aqueous solutions, approximately -130 degC, the temperature at which frozen water no longer sublimes and recrystallizes.
Family Banking
"Family Cord Blood Banking” also called “directed allogeneic” means your child’s cord blood stem cells can be used to treat both themselves and other compatible family members. Family Cord Blood Banking represents a significant new era in cord blood banking in Australia and greatly extends the potential uses for your child’s cord blood.
Graft vs host disease (GvHD)
GvHD is one of the most common and life-threatening side effects of a stem cell transplant when using stem cells from another individual or "donor" to treat a patient. GvHD is the leading cause of death after transplant so it is a critical consideration. GvHD occurs when the transplanted stem cells from a donor recognise the recipient's body as foreign and attack it.
Cord blood that is banked with Cryosite for autologous use overcomes the potential for GvHD.
Granulocytes
A type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules that are little sacs containing enzymes, compounds that digest microorganisms.
Haematopoiesis
Haematopoiesis is the formation of blood cellular components (ie White Blood Cells, Red Blood Cells and Platelets). All cellular blood components are derived from haematopoietic stem cells.
HLA match
HLA matching is the criteria used to determine donor and recipient compatibility and generally refers to six proteins called human leukocyte antigens (HLA) that appear on the surface of white blood cells and other tissues in the body. A transplant can only be performed if there is an adequate HLA match between donor and recipient. While a perfect 6/6 match provides the best clinical outcome, transfusions can take place with a 5/6 or even 4/6 HLA match. This may occur if access to publicly banked cord blood is required.
Cord blood that is banked with Cryosite for autologous use is always a perfect 6/6 match.
Infusion
Infusion is the process of receiving products into one's circulation intravenously.
Laboratory Director
The Laboratory Director is a licensed physician with appropriate experience in laboratory and clinical medicine.
The Laboratory Director is responsible for providing specialist advice regarding the interpretation of client test results and laboratory QC activities.
Liquid Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in a liquid state at a very low temperature. It is produced industrially by fractional distillation of liquid air.
Medical Director
The Medical Director is a licensed physician with appropriate experience in laboratory and clinical medicine. The Medical Director is responsible for donor recruitment, eligibility and selection, and the medical aspects of the collection procedures.
The Medical Director is responsible for reviewing the record of each CBU prior to release including processing, test results and medical history, and must authorise the release of all non conforming units. The Medical Director is responsible for liaising with clients regarding clarification of the Medical History Questionnaire and assessment of the Medical History Questionnaire when review is required (including maternal risk factors for transmission of communicable diseases and test results and family medical history for transmissible genetic diseases).
Medical Uses of Stem Cells
Stem cells from bone marrow were first used to regenerate blood and immune cells for patients who had received chemotherapy for cancer. In 1988 doctors started using cord blood stem cells to treat diseases that had previously been treated with bone marrow transplantation. Banking and re-infusing cord blood stem cells is now routine medical practice.
Cord blood stem cells are routinely used for haematopoetic reconstitution as they can continually replicate and differentiate into the cells of the blood and immune systems (red blood cells to transport oxygen, white blood cells to provide a defense mechanism against foreign organisms and disease and to provide immunity, and platelets, which are essential for blood clotting).
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells
While most blood stem cells reside in the bone marrow, a small number are present in the bloodstream. These peripheral blood stem cells, or PBSCs, can be used just like bone marrow stem cells to treat leukemia, other cancers and various blood disorders.
Placenta
The placenta is the organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination via the mother's blood supply.
Quality Manager
The Quality Manager is responsible for establishing and maintaining systems to review, modify, improve, and implement all SOPs relating to Quality Management and to monitor compliance with Netcord FACT standards.
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is the process of creating living, functional tissues to repair or replace tissue or organ function lost due to damage, or congenital defects. This field holds the promise of regenerating damaged tissues and organs in the body by stimulating previously irreparable organs to heal themselves. Regenerative medicine also empowers scientists to grow tissues and organs in the laboratory and safely implant them when the body cannot heal itself.
Stem Cells
Stem cells are the bodies essential "master cells" that are the building blocks of organ tissue, blood, and the immune system. Stem cells are unique and special as they are capable of “self renewal”, which is the ability to produce more stem cells and “differentiation”, which is the ability to produce the cells that are found in different types of tissue and organs.
These unique properties ensure that when a stem cell divides each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or to develop into another more specialised type of cell allowing the body to maintain healthy tissues as well as repairing or replacing damaged or worn out cells or tissues.
Umbilical cord
The umbilical cord (also known as the birth cord or funiculus umbilicalis) is the connecting cord from the developing embryo or fetus to the placenta. Following the birth of a baby, the umbilical cord can be clamped and cut to allow cord blood stem cells to be collected into a sterile blood collection bag.