Explain the role of the laboratory professional in stem cell ...

[mckennatimberlake]

Explain the role of the laboratory professional in stem cell transplantation.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Explain the detection and significance of chimerisms in stem cell transplantation.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[yuyiding]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: The role of the laboratory professional is inherent in all phases of testing for stem cell transplant:
Pretransplant testing:
 HLA compatibility testing
 ABO compatibility testing (if needed)
 Absolute neutrophil count (CBC) for chemotherapy dosage
Peritransplant testing:
 Apheresis of stem cells
 WBC/MNC counts
 CD34 enumeration by flow cytometry
 Processing and cryopreservation of stem cells
 Bacterial, viral, fungal cultures
 Cell cultures for enumeration of CFUs
Post-transplant testing:
 Short-term engraftment  CBC
 Long-term engraftment  chimerism studies
 Investigation of possible complications

Answer to Question 2

The presence of chimerisms indicates complete infusion of donor HSCs into the recipient. The method of detection is through variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms, which separate out donor DNA/RNA from recipient DNA/RNA. Complete chimerisms exist if there is only donor DNA/RNA present. A complete chimerism indicates a successful stem cell transplant.

[mckennatimberlake]

Thank you

[yuyiding]

Happy to help you