The Alberta Cord Blood Bank is experiencing close to 60% incomplete forms from our potential donors. These forms are not processed any further as these applications do not meet the guideline requirements of the Alberta Cord Blood Bank and Health Canada. Physicians and midwives are being gracious enough to endorse these forms. This is a considerable effort on the part of our potential donors and their care givers.
The Alberta Cord Blood Bank registration form states on three separate pages that these incomplete forms cannot be processed and that forms will not be returned for resubmission. The effort that is needed to contact individuals who have submitted incomplete forms is costly in terms of both staff time expenditure and the financial resources of the Bank. This would compromise the Bank's ability to devote its resources to the collection, processing and storage of cord blood units for transplantation. Whilst the Bank is thankful for the generosity of our potential donors, it can only use its resources in the most economical manner.
Donors are reminded that all sections of the registration form must be completed for assessment before acceptance for donation. Specifically, provincial health care numbers are required as unique identifiers for the mother to ensure that collected cord blood units are accurately identified. Mislabelling of a cord blood unit that is transplanted into a recipient will cause death. The Bank cannot stress enough the seriousness of cord blood transplantation in very sick children. This is the reason for the stringent requirements of donors to qualify. These children are already sick enough and cannot withstand any medical misadventures due to improper documentation of the cord blood unit.
The Bank is confident that all our donors would only want us to store safe cord blood units for transplantation into sick children to save their lives. Please ensure that your forms are current and are completely filled in to help us maintain a safe cord blood bank. We thank you for your generosity that gives all families a chance at this life saving treatment when this is needed.
Dr. John J. Akabutu
Executive Director.