Accepted author manuscript, 530 KB, PDF document
Available under license: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
<mark>Journal publication date</mark> | 8/09/2022 |
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<mark>Journal</mark> | New Genetics and Society |
Issue number | 2 |
Volume | 41 |
Number of pages | 21 |
Pages (from-to) | 136-156 |
Publication Status | Published |
Early online date | 26/05/22 |
<mark>Original language</mark> | English |
Umbilical cord blood unit (CBU) “quantity” continues to grow internationally, while cord blood transplantation (CBT) “quality” remains poorly defined and subject to uncertainty. CBT “quality” is affected by both the product (i.e. CBUs) and CBT processes, with “best practice” varying across countries. To improve overall CBT “quality”, we need to better understand the uncertainty associated with CBUs and CBT processes and how staff manage it. In this qualitative study, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with individuals working in CBT in UK and Japan. We found that understanding of CBT quality by the cord blood community is underpinned by the quality of the CBU, the expertise and collaboration of scientific and clinical stakeholders, trust in collection and testing processes and international accreditation. Importantly, we found that local and individual experience is used to manage uncertainty within CBT, and we propose that selection guidelines should acknowledge the extent of uncertainty in decision-making.