The effect of COVID-19 on autologous cord blood and cord tissue banking in Turkey: a cross-sectional and retrospective study.

Abstract

Introduction: Since 1988, when cord blood was used for the first time in bone marrow transplant, over 35,000 units of cord blood have been used successfully. The collection, transfer, processing, and cryopreservation of cord blood and cord tissues have been defined by standardized protocols. There is limited data on autologous cord blood and cord tissue banking in extraordinary cases such as pandemics. Apart from the measures adopted at the global level in the fight against a pandemic, there may be varying practices at the national level. These differences are due to factors such as human behaviors, opportunities to access medical care, number of healthcare professionals, infrastructure of the healthcare institutions, and timing of the measures in different societies. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effects of the measures adopted to fight COVID-19 pandemic on autologous cord blood and cord tissue banking in the three-month period following the first case in Turkey. Materials and Methods: The study was planned as a cross-sectional and retrospective study. The information about the cord blood collected was retrieved from the data recording software called KORDDATA and analyzed at our center. SPSS 21 software was used for statistical analysis. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for the Mann–Whitney U test result. Results: Quantities, transfer times, viability rates, and microbiological contamination rates of cord tissues and cord blood delivered to our center for storage purposes were evaluated and compared with the data from the period of 3 months during which there were no cases. Due to the measures adopted and the restrictions imposed, transfer times were prolonged, but no negative effects were observed on viability and microbiological contamination rates. Conclusion: This result shows that autologous cord blood and cord tissue banking can continue smoothly in Turkey during the pandemic.

Keywords

• cord blood
• cord tissue
• covid-19

Supporting Institution

Antalya Teknokent Babylife Özel Sağlık Yatırımları San. Tic. A.Ş.

Project Number

2020-SC1

Thanks

I would like to thank statistician Ezgi Afşar Gür for her contributions to the statistical analyses and Antalya Teknokent Babylife Özel Sağlık Yatırımları San. Tic. A.Ş. for their financial support.

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