Much attention has been focused recently around the world in the role of stem cells in the potential treatment of disease conditions. In the foreseeable future, it may be possible to use stem cells to rebuild or regenerate damaged or diseased tissues and organs. At present, stem cells are being used primarily to replace bone marrow depleted or destroyed by disease or chemotherapy.
Collecting Cord Blood offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain stem cells. Cord blood can only be collected during birth. It will no longer available after the placenta is delivered. What are the importances of storing stem cells from cord blood?
1.
Protect your family
Many expectant parents are storing their baby’s cord blood for their family as “biological insurance” in knowing these precious stem cells may someday be useful for their children, themselves or other family members.
2.
Painless, Non-Invasive, and Risk-Free Retrieval
Technically a simple collection process which takes only a few minutes and collected safely without maternal or neonatal risk following delivery.
3.
Family Medical History
Families with medical history of developing diseases that are potentially treatable with stem cell transplants, including diseases such as leukemia and immune system disorders.1 The highest probability for a transplant match is from a related donor. In addition, the transplant success rate of related donors is double that of unrelated donors.2
4.
Compatibility and Accessibility
Finding a compatible cord blood unit remains an important consideration for patients. Locating a suitable match from public registries can be difficult and is often time-consuming. In fact, more than 30% of patients requiring transplant therapy are unable to find a suitable match.3 The statistical likelihood of finding a suitable donor decreases for children of ethnic or racial minorities or adopted children. For these families, private cord blood banking improves the likelihood that a suitable transplant will be immediately available. Otherwise, without a privately banked unit, a search could take months and still be unsuccessful.
5.
Immediate Availability for Clinical Use
The stem cells are ready for use after thawing, hence eliminating the hassle of searching for a matching donor’s stem cells.
6.
Lower Collection Fee
Significantly lower cost compared to bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow transplant.
7.
100% Perfect Match
The baby’s cord blood stem cells guarantee a perfect match for the baby and can potentially match with their siblings and parents.
8.
Less stringent HLA (human leukocyte antigen) matching is required for use in transplantation as compared to bone marrow.
9.
Low Rejection
low chances of life threatening Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD) after transplantation.
Hayani A. et al. First Report of Autologous Cord Blood Transplantation in the Treatment of a Child with Leukemia. Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 2007:296-300
Gluckman, E. et al. Outcome of cord-blood transplantation from related and unrelated donors. Eurocord Transplant Group and the European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group. 1997 Aug 7;337(6):373-81
Wagner, J., et al: Blood 2000 (5):1611-1618
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