Using DMSO for cryopreservation of bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell and lymphocytes

A Transfusion Medicine Specialist affiliated with a New Zealand Blood Service reports that their facility regularly uses DMSO for cryopreservation of bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell and lymphocytes. However, they are unaware of an approval by any regulatory authority to use DMSO for infusion purposes. Thus, they are interested to learn what quality control / validation steps others take to establish safety and efficacy of this product.

The Editors think colleagues will find the information in the discussion "Compliance with Current Good Tissue Practice for Human Cell, Tissue, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Product Establishments" to be germane to the New Zealander's question.

The following comments were submitted in response to the above.

ADDENDA August 11, 2009

1. According to a scientist affiliated with the Canadian Blood Services, Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is one of the least toxic compounds known. Given this, levels of 10% or higher of DMSO can have some minor side effects in mice, in his experience. In transfusion medicine, human tissues frozen in DMSO should be washed after thawing to reduce the level of DMSO down to below 10% (probably, washing reduces the levels to less than 1%, if at least 3 washes with large volumes of saline). Thus, according to the Canadian scientist, even if some DMSO is infused, it likely will not have any toxicity given the residual levels post thaw and washing.

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