Table 1

Mean endothelial cell densities (ECD) at the start and end of storage, from 17 French cornea banks using organ culture storage (for 1999, source: French storage centre register3)

Cornea bankCorneas delivered (number)Donor age (years)Death-procurement time (hours)ECD at start of organ culture (cells/mm2)Organ culture time (days)ECD at delivery (cells/mm2)
**Only bank 4 used a computer aided analysis tool based on digitisation by tracing with the mouse the perimeter of 100 cells visible on the screen, an objective but laborious and time consuming method. The ECDs of our bank (number 2) and of the 15 others were measured manually during this period. Since our bank has been using our prototype analyser, our mean ECDs have increased a mean 4% (data not presented) and now approach those of bank 4. ECD = endothelial cell density, NA = data not available, nd = analysis not done
112662.09.25214015.41986
210267.214.2244115.52131
33154.0NA2316192190
428871.529.4nd18.52218
58558.014NA162300
621166.0NA2390162308
77368.011266018.52340
86464.011NA162496
99150.082680162540
109349.412.4274814.52561
11152NA122675162567
1226761.08280017.32600
1310770.713.42738212643
144964.09.75280617.32710
1513367.511.72645142745
1614264.48.33030182848
17411NANANANANA