Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ13: Collecting Umbilical cord blood

Following is a question by Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (October 16):

Question:

It was reported that an expectant mother had informed the Hong Kong Red Cross ("HKRC") that she wished to donate the umbilical cord blood upon her delivery, so that the stem cells in the blood may be used to help cure cancer patients. As her baby was subsequently born outside office hours, due to scarcity of resources, the HKRC did not deploy staff to the public hospital concerned to collect the cord blood, resulting in its wastage. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the estimated total quantities of cord blood available for collection in Hong Kong over the past three years;

(b) whether it has provided support to HKRC for the collection and storage of cord blood; if so, of the details; and

(c) whether it knows the procedure adopted by HKRC for collecting cord blood at public hospitals, and whether the health care personnel of public hospitals can collect cord blood on behalf of the HKRC?

Reply:

(a) Cord blood is rich in haematopoietic stem cells which, like bone marrow, could be infused to patients for treatment of various blood diseases, and is thus an alternative treatment for patients who require bone marrow transplant therapy. The specialists of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) estimates that 4 000 to 4 500 units of cord blood samples would be sufficient to provide matched cord blood for most of the local patients who may need bone marrow transplant therapy. As a first step in establishing a centralised Cord Blood Bank for Hong Kong, the BTS has, with funding support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (Jockey Club Trust), set up a Cord Blood Bank in 1999 to collect, process and store 2 300 units of cord blood for transplant therapy in Hong Kong by end 2004. The total quantities of cord blood available for donation would vary depending on the following factors:

i) the clinically suitability of the pregnant women for cord blood donation;
ii) the medical situation of the parturients; and
iii) whether the pregnant women would give consent for the donation.

As the target is to collect, process and store 2 300 units of cord blood by end 2004, the Hospital Authority (HA) has not estimated the total quantities of cord blood available for donation in the past three years.

(b) BTS currently deploys two specially trained nurses to collect cord blood. The salaries of these two nurses, together with the cost of the necessary equipment and consumables required for processing, testing and storing of cord blood, are funded by the Jockey Club Trust. The other operating cost of the Cord Blood Bank, including technical support provided by BTS's specialised staff and other administrative support, is met by HA through Government subvention.

(c) In line with the international standards, the collection, processing and storage of cord blood must be carried out by specially trained staff. For operational efficiency, BTS has obtained the agreement of the neighbouring Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to collect cord blood from parturients of their labour wards. Currently, two specially trained nurses collect two to four units of cord blood daily from KWH and QEH during Mondays to Fridays. The procedures of collecting cord blood are as follows:

i) BTS staff distribute pamphlets to and conduct briefing sessions on cord blood donation for potential donors in antenatal clinics;

ii) BTS staff review the medical records of pregnant women and approach those who are clinically suitable to obtain their written consent for cord blood donation;

iii) If the medical situation of a parturient is suitable for donation, cord blood will be collected from the placenta after delivery of the baby;

iv) The collected cord blood will then be sent back to BTS for testing and processing within 24 hours of collection; and

v) Cord blood units suitable for transplant will be stored at -196 degree Celsius in liquid nitrogen.

End/Wednesday, October 16, 2002
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