How Can Cord Blood Be Used?

It was in the 1970s that stem cells were first discovered in human cord blood. This was a major discovery due to the fact that stem cells are dominant cells which continue the development of all tissues, systems and organs in the body. In the 1980s, cord blood was considered comparable to bone marrow when it came to transfusions, and in 1988, the first successful cord blood transfusion took place in France. The child who received the transfusion suffered from anemia, and the stem cells in the cord blood regenerated his own immune cells. The 1990s saw a high success rate among adults and children who received cord blood transplants for diseases such as cancer, sickle cell anemia and leukemia. By 2005, researchers and medical experts had discovered that the use of cord blood could treat more than 70 different diseases.

Saving a newborn's cord blood is often compared to having extra insurance on that child. Every child's cord blood is genetically specific to that child and his family members. This means that in the event a condition or disease presents itself and the child or their family member needs a transplant or transfusion, healthy cells from the child's umbilical cord are available for treatment and, quite possibly, a cure.

The stem cells found in cord blood are classified into three groups: red and white cells, and platelets. When patients have diseases such as leukemia or sickle cell anemia, the cells are injected into their system directly from a bag of stored cord blood. As the cells are injected, they begin to flow through the patient's blood stream, regenerating their own red and white cells, along with their platelets. This strengthens the patient's own immune system, ultimately fighting the disease. Once the transplant is complete, the cord blood stem cells reproduce quickly, building healthy blood tissue in the patient's body. This process is very similar to a bone marrow transplant, however it is considered safer and more effective. When transplanting with bone marrow, the patient's own cells may fight off the already matured bone marrow of the donor. In many cases, rejection and infection can occur, leading to death. The stem cells from cord blood do not pose this threat as they are not fully mature, nearly completely removing the risk of rejection and therefore resulting in higher success rates.

Cord blood can be used to treat and cure many different diseases. Among these are chronic leukemias such as lymphocytic and myelogenous, malignancies which include brain tumors and small cell lung cancer, and plasma cell disorders such as multi-myeloma. Diseases that are currently considered experimental include multiple sclerosis and rheumetoid arthritis. While the diseases cord blood is used to treat all have different causes, the treament for each remains the same as does the basis for the success rate of these treatments.

If you decide that you would like to have your child's cord blood stored, you will have an initial payment of between $900 and $1,200. This payment covers the fee for collection of the blood, the enrollment fee and the first year's storage cost. After the initial payment, the average cost to store is roughly $100 annually. Many blood banks will offer some type of payment plan for parents who are interested to make it easier for them to participate. The Cord Blood Registry began a program called Designated Transplant Program; this was designed so that families with medical conditions could store the cord blood at no charge. You also want to choose a blood bank that is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks. Finally, if you decide not to store your child's cord blood, you may consider donating it to a public cord blood bank in case others may need it. It would be collected and stored at no cost to you.