Effect of the umbilical cord blood acid-base status and gas values on the yield of mononuclear cells and CD34⁺ cells.

AIM: To investigate the influence of umbilical cord blood (CB) acid-base status and gas values on the yield of mononuclear cells and CD34⁺ cells, pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3⁻ and base excess were measured in arterial CB samples obtained from normal full-term deliveries. The relationship of these values with the yield of mononuclear cells and CD34⁺ cells detected in venous CB was analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 145 CB units were collected from full-term vaginal deliveries at a single hospital. Immediately after delivery, a segment of the umbilical cord was double clamped, and arterial CB was analyzed to determine the acid-base status and gases. Venous CB was collected in a sterile collection bag and processed for cell separation within 24 h of collection. The relationship between umbilical arterial acid-base status, each gas value, and the yield of mononuclear cells and CD34⁺ cells was analyzed. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations were observed between the net weight of CB and the total mononuclear and CD34⁺ cell counts. In addition, there was a negative correlation between the mononuclear cell counts and pH, but a positive correlation between the mononuclear cell counts and pCO2. However, no significant differences were observed between the primipara and multipara groups in terms of the net weight of CB, total mononuclear cell counts and total CD34⁺ cell counts. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study show that the mononuclear cell counts are correlated with arterial CB pH and pCO2, suggesting the involvement of fetal hypoxia on the yield of mononuclear cells.