PRESERVATION OF GRANULOPOIETIC PRECURSORS IN NONFROZEN, STORED HUMAN BONE MARROW

Abstract

Procedures for maintaining human bone marrow in a viable state for a period of 1-3 days were examined. Various fractionation methods and environmental conditions were compared, and these results indicate that unfractionated, washed bone marrow cells stored at 25.degree. C in a CO2-charged incubator gave the highest total recovery of granulopoietic stem cells capable of colony formation in vitro. After 24 and 48 h incubation, a mean of 93 and 89% were preserved. Room temperature storage of bone marrow may have clinical applicability in autologous marrow infusion after high-dose chemoradiotherapy.