Neonatal sex and weight influence CD34+ cell concentration in umbilical cord blood but not stromal cell-derived factor 1-3′A polymorphism

Background. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been used as an alternative source, of donor hematopoietic stem cells for hematologic transplant setting over the past decade. This study attempted to evaluate potential predictors of cord blood quality. Methods. A total of 750 UCB samples were studied (male, n = 365; female, n = 385). The impact of neonatal sex, weight and stromal cell derived factor-1 alpha polymorphism on the quality of these UCB samples was investigated. Results. Male neonatal UCB was significantly richer in CD34(+) cells than was female UCB (P < 0.001), whereas female UCB was richer in total nucleated cells (P = 0.01). There was a slight correlation between CD34(+) cells concentration and UCB sample weight (P < 0.01) that could be attributed to the higher weight of male neonates. The use of tetra polymerase chain reaction to detect stromal cell derived factor-1 alpha polymorphisms in 180 neonates revealed no differences between A/A, GIG and A/G allelic combinations. Conclusions. These data emphasize the lack of predictive factors for CD34(+) cells and total nucleated cell concentrations in UCB samples before processing.