What does my Stem Cell Report mean?

Understanding these numbers is crucial when evaluating the potential effectiveness of your baby's cord blood collection. Let's dive in:

• Collection Volume: The initial overall volume of the cord blood collection after processing gives us a general insight into its potential effectiveness. While a larger collection volume often means more stem cells, it's important to note that the number of stem cells is a more direct measure of transplantation effectiveness. The average median pre-processing of stem cells is 20 mL. This is standard and leaves you with all the vital blood stem cells required for transplantation in the future.
• Total Nucleated Cell Count (TNC): Total nucleated cell count; includes any cell with a nucleus (platelets, white blood cells, etc.) Anja’s collections range from 200 million to 2 billion. TNC count is widely used to determine the relative potency of cord blood collection. They are dependent on the length of the cord, genetics, and whether the birth involved delayed cord clamping.
• CD34+ Cell Count: CD34+ cell count helps us evaluate the number of hematopoietic stem cells in the cord blood collection. They are dependent on the length of the cord, genetics, and whether the birth involved delayed cord clamping.
• Viability: Viability testing assesses whether cells are alive or dead. A viability range of 50-100% is observed, with an average median of around 80%. Any viability percentage above 50% can be sufficient for potential future use.

It's important to note that Total CD34+ and TNC measurements have several variables and aren't considered definitive indicators of processing success. Additionally, if we receive pre-processed units below 20 mL we are unable to proceed with processing. Don't worry though, we'll reach out to you within 24-48 hours upon receiving the unit to inform you and make any necessary adjustments to your plan.

‍Learn more about CD34 stem/progenitor cells here.

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