Hematopoietic Stem Cells

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Hematopoietic Stem Cell Services

New York Blood Center's Hematopoietic Stem Cell Service provides comprehensive support for bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients at hospitals throughout the tri-state area. Our program provides mobile peripheral blood stem cell apheresis collections, complete processing and cryopreservation laboratory services, and access to medical expertise in the mobilization protocols essential to a successful outcome.

The Stem Cell Service has processed and cryopreserved over 12,000 Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell (HPC) products (bone marrow and peripheral blood combined). This represents products used by more than 5,000 transplant procedures.

Bone marrow or peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells are collected for patients scheduled to undergo stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation. For autologous transplants, the patient donates his or her own cells. For allogeneic transplants, a healthy donor provides cells for a patient. Collected cells (harvested by aspiration from the marrow or by therapeutic apheresis from the blood) are processed to concentrate the stem cells. Stem cells may be further processed in a variety of ways, depending upon the source and volume of stem cells and the diagnosis of the recipient. In selected cases, the concentrated stem cell preparation is processed to concentrate or eliminate cells found in the collection. A special chemical mixture is added to protect cells during freezing, and they are frozen and stored at temperatures below -125 degrees Celsius until thawed for infusion into the patient. Stem cell transplantation is used to replace diseased bone marrow, as in leukemia, or as an adjunctive measure for patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. For some diagnoses, stem cell transplantation procedures are experimental.

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collection

Peripheral blood stem cells can be used as a source of stem cells for both autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplants. Peripheral blood stem cell collection involves the collection of a concentrated preparation of circulating leukocytes by apheresis. These preparations contain stem cells that have the ability to restore blood cell production and represent an alternative source of stem cells for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

The following specific cell populations are collected:

• Stem Cells
• Mononuclear Cells
• Lymphocytes

A contractual arrangement between NYBC and the patient's hospital is necessary to receive this service. A physician's order/prescription is required to receive these services.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory Services

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Analyses
CD 34+ cell enumeration:
CD 34 is a cell surface antigen found on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The number of CD 34+ cells in the stem cell collection can be determined by flow cytometry. The number of CD 34+ cells is an indicator of the adequacy of the stem cell collection for bone marrow transplantation.

Colony Forming Unit (CFU) Assays:

Hematopoietic stem cells divide and differentiate into hematopoietic progenitor cells. Hematopoietic progenitor cells are intermediate between stem cells and mature blood cells. Hematopoietic progenitor cells can be grown in semi-solid culture media. In culture, the progenitor cells form colonies of daughter cells which can be indicative of the type and number of stem cells in the stem cell collection. (CFU) assays can be performed for quality control and/or research purposes. This procedure is used as a surrogate marker for the viability of a stem cell preparation and as such can be used to judge the adequacy of stem cell preparations for transplantations.

Cell Processing

• CD34+ cell enrichment
• Other monoclonal antibody-based enrichment
• Donor lymphoctyes
• T- cell depletion
• Red cell depletion

Cryopreservation

NYBC's extensive emergency backup procedures and equipment safeguard handling and storage of cells indefinitely. Our storage facility utilizes liquid nitrogen freezers, a remote alarm system and rigorous quality controls.