ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cord blood has been established as an alternative source of hematopoietic reconstituting cells for allogeneic transplantation. CHA cord blood bank, I-CORD has been followed the 'Rubinstein method', which is manual method for collecting mononuclear cells (MNCs). The problem of these manual methods are the risk of bacterial contamination and poor reliability. Recently, an automated method running on the Sepax(R) system (Biosafe S.A., Eysins, Switzerland) has been developed and we compared the results of automated system and manual technique. METHODS: For the total 40 cord blood donations to CHA cord blood bank I-CORD, we processed with manual method using Rubinstein protocol or automated method using "Sepax(R)" (Biosafe S.A.). The recovery rate of total leukocytes and mononuclear cells and hematocrit ratio were compared after processing. RESULTS: The mean ratio of hematocrit after/before processing was significantly lower in samples processed by using manual method (0.96+/-0.42) than "Sepax(R)" (1.4+/-0.4). The WBC recoveries were comparable between two groups (82.8+/-12.8% with manual method and 83.9+/-8.9% with "Sepax(R)"). The recoveries of mononuclear cells were more efficient in samples processed by "Sepax(R)" (100.8+/-31.8%) than those by manual method (74.2+/-13.8%). CONCLUSION: The automated technique using "Sepax(R)" achieved a comparable recovery rate to conventional manual method and has advantages because these systems are more standardized and closed system. The processing effectiveness could be improved through more practices.