National Cord Blood Program, New York Blood Center, Long Island City, NY
Cord blood units (CBUs) are monitored for quality using key indicators during shipment and after release. Testing includes total nucleated cells (TNC), viable CD34 cells, and colony-forming units (CFU) to ensure stability throughout storage. Most CBUs maintain consistent quality, with 96.8% of patients achieving successful engraftment. Low-viability events and non-engraftment cases are reviewed extensively, including manufacturing, distribution, and testing data, to identify potential issues. Technical problems, rather than CBU quality, are typically the cause of deviations. Continuous analysis of quality control and outcome data ensures that CBUs meet the necessary standards for transplantation.