Twenty years of unrestricted hematopoietic stem cell collection and storage: impact of Joint Accreditation Committee International Society for Cellular Therapy Europe standards implementation on stem cell storage policy and resource utilization

Autologous peripheral blood stem cells transplantation (aPBSCT) is a therapeutic option that can be used in various hematological neoplastic disorders; it implies the infusion of previously collected and cryopreserved stem cells (CSC). Collected CSC are not always infused for a variety of reasons, including death before aPBSCT, lost to follow-up, no further clinical need or collection exceeding requested cell dose. The former case entails the elimination of CSC bags, whereas other cases generate ethical, medical and legal issues because it is essential to document that the conditions for disposal have been met and are not in contradiction with consent forms signed at the time of collection.