Why families choose to collect and store their baby’s cord blood?
More and more families are choosing to collect and store their baby’s cord blood all the time. Just ten or twenty years ago, people would have thought it odd to collect and store cord blood. However, today it’s common for parents to know about cord blood collection. Parents are learning all the time what value cord blood has, that stem cells can literally save or change the life of their child or another family member later in life. Collecting and storing cord blood is thinking ahead and making sure that you are prepared for the future, whatever it may bring.
   
What are hematopoietic stem cells?
These cells are "progenitor" cells of the blood system. They have the potential to develop into more specialized cells, and differentiate into all the components of the blood and immune system.
 
Who should consider storing cord blood?
All expectant parents should be made aware of the option to bank their baby's own umbilical cord stem cells. Expectant parents who have a family history of certain genetic diseases, such as severe anemias, immune disorders or some cancers, may want to consider the family benefit of storing cord blood. Some may choose to store their cord blood with no apparent risk factors, preferring to have it readily available for future use if needed. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will no longer exist once the baby is born.
 
Options for saving your baby’s cord blood
There are two main options when deciding what you’ll do with the cord blood: you can go with a private bank or a public bank. Each has benefits, but what you intend to do with the cord blood will really dictate what type of bank you’ll choose to store your baby’s cord blood. Before the birth of your baby, you should really look into what options are available to you and decide wisely.
 
How is cord blood collected?
Cord blood is collected immediately after birth (within 3-5 minutes of delivery). The process does not interfere with labor or delivery in any way. Cord blood can be collected following a vaginal or cesarean (c-section) delivery. Hospital may use slightly different methods to collect the cord blood. Usually the doctor or nurse inserts a needle into a vein in the umbilical cord and drains the blood into a blood bag. This can be done before or after the mother delivers the placenta. The collection process takes less than 5 minutes.
 
Where and how is the cord blood stored? Is it safe?
StemTech laboratories are privately owned, state-of-the-art cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility located at Selangor Science Park, Kota Damansara. It is dedicated to cord blood and adult stem cells testing, processing and cryopreservation. Cells are stored in dual compartment bags and kept frozen in liquid nitrogen tanks at -190°C. Each tank has an alarm system in place which is linked to a centralized monitoring system to ensure that the proper volume and temperature is maintained at all times. This facility complies with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards and Current Good Tissue Practice (cGTP) standards. In the case of unexpected emergency, our laboratories is equipped with fire protective system and advanced security systems to ensure the safety of your precious stem cells.
 
How long can umbilical cord stem cells be kept frozen?
Many years and possibly for the life time of the baby. In fact, research indicates that these cells can be stored indefinitely.1 Current research has shown stem cells to be viable for at least 15 years from the time of freezing.2
 
Are there alternatives to cord blood?
Sources of stem cells include umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood stem cells, and bone marrow. Bone marrow harvesting can be costly and painful procedure whereas cord blood stem cell collection is completely painless and non-invasive.
 
What is the minimum volume of cord blood needed for cord blood banking?
The amount of cord blood drawn is normally about 80-90ml, but can vary from 40-150ml. Always advise your doctor to collect the cord blood as much as possible. The greater the volume of cord blood, the higher the number of stem cells collected, which is often linked to improved treatment success. If a smaller volume of cord blood is obtained, viable stem cells may still be recovered for future use. Patients are notified if there is a sub-optimal amount of cord blood obtained, and it is their option to process or discard the sample.
 
Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Graft-Versus-Host disease is a very common side effect of an allogenic bone marrow or cord blood transplant. This type of transplant is one that is given by a family member or unrelated donor and consists of blood forming cells. Graft-Versus-Host disease happens after a transplant as a response to a poor match between the donor and the recipient.
 
What is HLA matching?
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching is done when doctors are trying to find bone marrow or cord blood matches for a patient that needs one or both of these things. HLA matching is not as simple as knowing someone who is willing to donate, it’s a very delicate process to ensure that there will not be any ill effects from the transplantation.
 
If I’m expecting multiple birth (twins or triplets) in my pregnancy, should I store all my babies cord blood?
As every baby is genetically unique, storing every baby’s cord blood is recommended as it ensures perfect HLA matching to your baby. In addition, the collection volume per baby in multiple births is usually smaller, so collecting cord blood for all your babies ensures adequate stem cells stored for future use. As their genes are different, their cord blood must be stored separately.
 
Can the baby’s stem cells be used for a sibling or other family members?
Stem cells from a baby are a perfect match only for the baby or for an identical twin, and can be used for a sibling or other family member if the “matching” is acceptable. Cord blood stem cells can be safely used with up to a 50% mismatch. Medical research also shows that receiving stem cells from a related donor confers a greater likelihood of survival and reduced likelihood of severe transplant-related complications.
 
Should parents consider storing for a 2nd or 3rd child?
Yes. Even though the cord blood from a 1st child has a good chance of being used by a sibling, there is still a chance that there will not be an acceptable match. By storing cord blood for each child, parents are assured an exact match of stem cells for each child.
 
Who has access to the frozen cord blood?
StemTech is a private facility. Once the stem cells are stored, the parents have sole ownership of the use and disposal of the stem cells. Once required, the cord blood unit can be released from our laboratory upon receipt of confirmation from both the parents and the Transplant Centre. No stem cells will be released by StemTech without the parents’ consent until the child is 21 years of age, at which time, the cells become the property of the child.
 
Will my blood and the Cord Blood be tested?
All American Association of Blood Bank, accredited labs will require maternal blood testing. This is to ensure that no viruses are present. All labs will run various tests on your baby's Cord Blood prior to storage. These ensure that only viable samples are being put into storage.
 
Is the cost of the maternal blood testing and collection of the cord blood included in the fees?
Yes. All the costs for processing, testing and storing of the cord blood is included in our fees.
 
What is the probability that a person will require a stem cell transplant over the course of a lifetime?
Over the course of a lifetime up to age 70, the probability that a person will require a transplant of her own stem cells (“autologous” transplant) is 1 in 450 or 0.23%.3

Over the course of a lifetime up to age 70, and the probability of requiring any transplant, from yourself or another person (“autologous” or allergenic” transplant), is 1 in 220 or 0.46%.3
 
How late can I register for the StemTech International program?
Unlike other facilities, we are able to register clients right up to the last minute. A kit can be rushed to you prior to the birth. Call us immediately and we will work with your health care professionals to assure the successful collection of your baby's Cord Blood. Ideally, clients should register prior to 35 weeks gestation so that they are ready with their kit when the first labour pains begin.
   
  1. Linden , J., Preti, R., Dracker, R. New York state guidelines for cord blood banking. Journal of Hematotherapy. 1997; 6:535-541
  2. Broxmeyer, et al. High-efficiency recovery of functional hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells from human cord blood cryopreserved for 15 years. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2003: 21;100(2):645-50
  3. Pasquini, M.C., Logan, B.R., Verter, F., Horowitz, M.M., & Nietfeld, J.J. The Likelihood of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HCT) in the United States: Implications for Umbilical Cord Blood Storage. Blood. 2005;106(11)