Cord Blood Banking
The Top Three Questions About Stem Cell Storage
Every month, approximately 10,000 families preserve their newborn’s cord blood stem cells – here are some of the reasons why:
• Cord blood is a rich and non-controversial source of stem cells. Today, stem cells treat cancers (e.g. leukemia), cure blood diseases (e.g. Fanconi Anemia) and repair tissue (e.g. cardiac). Cord blood stem cells have been used in the treatment of over 40 diseases and have been used in more than 7,000 life-saving transplants.
• Looking ahead, scientists are working with cord blood stem cells as a potential treatment for heart disease and working to develop cell expansion technologies designed to allow a single cord blood unit to be used for multiple uses. If the FDA does approve cell expansion technology, families may have the potential to use their cord blood unit for multiple family members and multiple treatments.1
• Stem cells from a related source are the preferred option for treatment. A related source of stem cells is the preferred option because the data shows the survival rate of a transplant patient using related (family) stem cells is more than twice that of a patient receiving an unrelated (public).2
Cord blood stem cells, like bone marrow stem cells, are free of political and ethical debate. Cord blood banking is endorsed by the current White House Administration and many religious organizations worldwide. Because of cord blood’s value and its controversy-free status, many states have already introduced legislation on educating families about the options for their baby’s cord blood.
• The collection process is easy and painless for both the mother and baby and does not interfere with the delivery or subsequent care for either.
• After the baby is born, but before the placenta is delivered, an obstetrician or midwife cleans a 4-to-8 inch area of the umbilical cord with antiseptic solution and inserts a needle connected to a blood bag into the umbilical vein.
• The blood flows into the bag by gravity until the umbilical vein is emptied. The blood bag is clamped, sealed and labeled. The collection typically takes about 2 to 4 minutes.