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Overview
Blood Cord Banking FactsStem cells have proven invaluable in the treatment of numerous life threatening illnesses, and scientists continue to expand their research in the hopes of finding treatments for many more. But the number of stem cells collected needs to increase to continue the quest, and save lives. In an effort to raise awareness, a system has been set in place to preserve this precious blood.
Identification
Blood cord banking involves the removal of blood from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby. Once the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut and a syringe is used to extract the blood from it. The blood is then carefully placed in a sealed vial and sent to a blood bank for storage.
Benefits
The blood from an umbilical cord is rich in stem cells. Human stem cells are used in transplants to treat such diseases as sickle cell anemia, leukemia and a series of lymphomas. Researchers also use the stem cells in ongoing clinical trials in the search for cures and treatments of illnesses that afflict children and adults.
Features
The stem cells within the cord blood are the same type of cells that are found in bone marrow. The body's immune system is completely dependent on the production and maturity of stem cells to produce red blood cells and blood platelets as well as the ever important white blood cells that fight infections.
Types
When parents make the decision to preserve the blood from their baby's umbilical cord, they will need to decide whether they will use a private blood bank or a storage facility that handles donations only. Private storage facilities charge to store the cord blood, but donation facilities will store the cord blood free of charge in hopes that the stem cells that it possesses will one day save lives.
Misconceptions
While the donation of cord blood has the potential for curing disease, it is important to understand that when a family chooses to use this method of storage, they do not have exclusive rights to the cord blood. If while being stored, the cord blood is found to be a match for someone else who needs it, the cord blood will no longer be available for the original donor family. In fact, if the donor family is in need of the cord blood at a future date, the cord blood of another donor match will need to be found.
