Abstract 4: Cord Blood Unit: Many Treatment Opportunities for Many Patients

Abstract Introduction The Sicily Cord Blood Bank (Italy) is connected to 43 birth centers that collect cord blood unit (SCO) for solidarity purposes. 95% of SCO units collected and not suitable for transplant use (HSC < 2 x 106 and TNC < 1200 x 106) can be recovered with the production of erythrocytes from leucodepleted cord blood (CB-RBC), platelets-poor plasma (CB-PPP) and platelet-rich plasma (CB-PC) usable for clinical use. Objectives Cord Blood units can be used for different applications to care many patients and to explore new lines of research. Methods SCO units suitable for clinical use with a volume > 40 ml and platelet > 150 x 109/L were subjected to fractionation using validated method and locally available equipment and commercial BioNest ABC and EF medical devices. SCO units were double centrifuged to obtain CB-PC, CB-PPP and CB-RBC. CB-RBCs were diluted with saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol (SAG-M) solution, leucodepleted by filtration and stored at 2-6°C. The CB-RBC units produced have a hemolysis rate of 0.35% in 96.6% units, an average volume of 54.63 ml, an average HT of 57.7%, a count of total residual WBC < 1 x 106 for unit in the 98.9% of total units. Results In 2022-2023, a total of 3270 SCO units were withdrawn from 43 birth centers. 98 units were cryopreserved and made available for transplant purposes. A total of 230 CB-RBC units (7%), 1829 CB-PC units and 1829 CB-PPP units useful for clinical use (production of eye drops, platelet gel and transfusion in premature newborns) were produced. Discussion The benefits of treatment with blood components for non trasfusion and trasfusion use with Cord Blood Unit collected are now known and consolidated in the scientific litterature for many therapeutic indications. For extensive use, it is desirable to undertake an intensive collection program in all birth centers to include new units in the inventories with a high number of HSCs and TNCs useful for transplantation and blood components for non-transfusion and transfusion use for the benefit of patients and with economic return to support the costs of the Cord Blood Banks.