Relocation of cryopreserved umbilical cord blood samples using a high‐capacity dry shipper to a new laboratory: a cord blood banking experience

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Processed umbilical cord blood (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UCB</jats:styled-content>) must be stored at cryogenic temperature at all times to maintain the quality and viability of the cells. However, a challenge is presented in the form of moving a large number of cryopreserved <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UCB</jats:styled-content> samples to a new location. In this report, we share our experience on relocating more than 100,000 units of cryopreserved <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UCB</jats:styled-content> samples stored in 12 liquid nitrogen freezers (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LNFs</jats:styled-content>) to our new laboratory.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Study Design and Methods</jats:title><jats:p>For quality control purposes, 2 weeks before relocation, donor <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UCB</jats:styled-content> samples were processed, cryopreserved, and stored in each <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LNF</jats:styled-content>. On relocation day, half of the samples were retrieved to determine total nucleated cell count, percentage of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CD</jats:styled-content>34+ cells, and cell viability as controls for later comparison. <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UCB</jats:styled-content> samples were transferred into dry shippers before being relocated to the new laboratory. Upon arrival, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LNFs</jats:styled-content> were serviced before transferring UCB samples back into its original location within the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LNF</jats:styled-content>. The remaining donor <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UCB</jats:styled-content> samples were retrieved and analyzed for the same tests mentioned.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>We found no significant differences in pre‐ and postrelocation values of the tests performed.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>All <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UCB</jats:styled-content> samples were successfully relocated into the new laboratory without affecting the quality.</jats:p></jats:sec>