Safety aspects of cord blood banking.

The safety of cord blood for transplantation depends upon a considered approach to donor selection, testing and processing of donations. It should be undertaken within a total quality system and good manufacturing practice facilities. Protocols should be developed based upon risk assessment and cost efficiency. In this context the retesting of donors for HIV is considered and the risk of a serological window period HIV transmission by cord blood illustrated to be minimal compared to the risks of transplant procedures or of not having a donor.