Biochemical Parameters of Umbilical Cord Blood in Niger Delta, Nigeria: Towards Ensuring Efficient Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of basic biochemical parameters like uric acid, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate and chloride in umbilical cord blood with a view to assess its suitability for stem cell transplantation.
Study Design: This is a cross-sectional prospective study.
Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Chemical Pathology University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City Nigeria between July 2010 and March 2011.
Methodology: Cord blood from a total of 164 pregnant women (HIV, hepatitis B and C negative) who delivered in University of Benin Teaching Hospital from July 2010 to March 2011 were analyzed for some basic biochemical parameters.
Results: The levels of the biochemical parameters were sodium 135.4±6.1mmol/L (128 to 150mmol/L), potassium 7.08±1.9mmol/L (4.5 to 14.7mmol/L), bicarbonate 19.6±2.4mmol/L(14-25mmol/L), chloride 101.7±3.8mmol/L (90-109mmol/L) and uric acid 1.63±0.9mmol/L (0.19-3.09mmol/L) chloride was the most stable with a CV of 3.71% while uric acid was the least stable with a CV of 12.63%.
Conclusion: Umbilical cord blood could become an important source of stem cell in sub-sahara Africa especially with the large number of deliveries. However careful selection of quality cord blood must be enforced to avoid contaminants and haemolysis which may be responsible for the hyperkalaemia as seen in this study.