Allogeneic: A transplant in which cells come from another person rather than the patient’s own cells.

American Association of Blood Banks (AABB): The leading organization that accredits umbilical cord blood banks.

Autologous: A transplant in which the patient’s own cells are used.

Blood Stem Cells: Cells found in the blood that can grow into a red blood cell, a white blood cell or a platelet. (Also called Hematopoietic Stem Cells)

Bone Marrow: A spongy tissue inside of large bones where the body’s blood cells are made.

Cord Blood: The blood of newborns found in the umbilical cord and placenta. It contains a large number of blood stem cells.

Cord Blood Bank: An organization that processes and stores umbilical cord blood.

Graft Versus Host Disease: A possibly life-threatening condition where the transplanted donor marrow or blood stem cells attack the patient’s body.

Hematopoiesis: The process of forming blood cells – red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Blood forming stem cells capable of producing all components of blood and marrow.

Immune System: The combined workings of the marrow and lymphocytes, which fight the body from foreign invaders.

Peripheral Blood or Peripheral Blood Stem Cells: Peripheral blood flows through the bloodstream of the body. Some blood stem cells are found in the peripheral blood.

Platelet: A blood cell needed to control bleeding.

Red Blood Cell: A cell that carries oxygen to all organs and tissues.

Stem Cells: A cell that has the ability to grow into other kinds of cells.

Stem Cell Transplant:  The process of infusing healthy stem cells into persons who have undergone high-dose chemotherapy for one of many forms of leukemia, immunodeficiency, lymphoma, anemias or metabolic disorders.  Healthy stem cells are collected from bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood.  Once the healthy stem cells are infused into the patient’s blood stream, the cells move from the blood vessels to the center of the bones where they begin making new blood cells. A stem cell from the blood of the umbilical cord and placenta.

Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell:  A stem cell from the blood of the umbilical cord and placenta.

White Blood Cell: Blood cells that help protect the body from infection.

 

Source: National Marrow Donor Program, last updated February 2005, Glossary, www.marrow.org, accessed April 2005.