Allogeneic transplant
From another person; When bone marrow is obtained from someone other than the patient himself.

Apheresis
A procedure in which blood is withdrawn from a donor and then re-infused after selected components, such as platelets, white blood cells, or plasma, have been separated and removed.

Aseptic technique
A precautionary method used in any procedure where there is a possibility of introducing organisms into the patient's body. Every article used must have been sterilized.

Autologous transplant
From one’s self; when marrow is obtained from the patient (it is obtained when the patient is in remission).

Bacteria
A group of microscopic organisms.

Bone Marrow
A soft organic substance found in the cavity of bones.

Blood (hematopoietic) stem cells
Are the originating cells of all the components of the blood and immune systems. They can reproduce themselves in unlimited numbers in the human body. Blood stem cells perform the critical role of continually replenishing our supply of blood cells—red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets—throughout life.

Cancer
A general term that covers any malignant growth in any part of the body.

Chemotherapy
Use of a specific chemical agent to arrest the progress of, or, eradicate disease in the body without causing irreversible injury to healthy tissues.

Cord blood
The blood that remains in the baby's umbilical cord after the cord has been cut, and is usually thrown away. Like bone marrow, cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells that are the building blocks of blood and the immune system.

Cryogenic
Anything produced by ultra low temperature. Also used to describe any means or apparatus involved in the production of ultra low temperature.

Cryopreservation
To maintain at ultra low temperatures.

Cryocyte bag
A bag specially designed for long term storage of stem cells at ultra low temperatures(< -150 C).

Differentiation
Acquiring specialized functions and characteristics different from the immature cell; Blood stem cells have demonstrated the ability to differentiate into brain cells, skeletal muscle cells, heart muscle cells, and liver cells.

Efficacy
A desired outcome.

Graft
Tissue or organ which is transplanted to another part of the same animal (autograft), to an animal of the same species (homograft), of a different species (heterograft).

Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD)
Cells in the donor's marrow try to destroy the recipient's cells.

Haplotype
All the HLA genes inherited from one parent. A person’s HLA phenotype is determined by both inherited haplotypes.

Hematopoeitic
Pertaining to or affecting the formation of blood cells.

Hematopoiesis
Blood cell production; the formation and development of the various blood cells from the multipotent stem cell.

Histocompatibility
Sameness.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)
HLAs are molecules expressed on the surface of virtually every cell in the body. The molecules form part of a system of immune recognition—essentially the ability to recognize "self'' from "non-self”.

Leukemia
A malignant proliferation of the leukopoietic tissues usually producing an abnormal increase in leukocytes in the blood.

Leukocytes
White blood cells.

Malignant
Virulent and dangerous; that which is likely to have a fatal termination.

Maturation
A cell developing into a functionally active cell.

Megakaryocytes
Cells found in bone marrow responsible for producing platelets.

Midwife
A non-physician who delivers babies.

Multipotent stem cells (may also referred to as ‘adult’ stem cells)
Specialized stem cells; found in children and adults. Examples include blood stem cells which give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Phenotype
A person’s HLA make-up.

Placenta
A vascular structure attached to the inner wall of the uterus, through which the fetus is supplied with nourishment and oxygen, and through it the fetus gets rid of its waste products.

Plasma
The fluid portion of blood.

Plasticity
The ability of a multipotent stem cell of one tissue to generate the specialized cell type(s) of another tissue; the stem cell may, under certain conditions, be quite flexible to generate into a different tissue.

Platelets
Stem cells that stop blood clotting, and repair injuries (control bleeding).

Pluripotent stem cells
Inner cell mass cells; they can give rise to many types of cells but not all types of cells necessary for fetal development. Because their potential is not total, they are not totipotent.

Proliferation
Division of cells.

Red blood cells
Carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Serologic Testing
Testing of HLA molecules using white blood cells.

Stem cell
A blood cell mother cell, having the capacity for both replication and differentiation, giving rise to different blood cell lines of distinct characteristics and appearance; Can divide indefinitely and give rise to specialized cells. Many types of stem cells exist.

Syngenetic transplants
Blood stem cell transplants done using an identical twin as the donor.

Totipotent stem cells
Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and creates a single cell that has the potential to form an entire (total) organism. This fertilized egg is totipotent, meaning that its potential is total. In the first hours after fertilization, this cell divides into identical totipotent cells. This means that either one of these cells, if placed into a woman's uterus, has the potential to develop into a fetus.

Transfusion
The introduction of fluid into the tissue or blood vessel.

Transplant
A procedure where an organ, tissue, or cells from one individual is removed and then grafted into a recipient.

Umbilical cord
A cellular cord line structure that connects the fetus to the placenta.

White blood cells
Protect the body against infection and fight infections when they occur.