What Is Cord Blood and How Is it Collected?

The blood of a newborn baby that returns to the neonatal circulation is known as cord blood. Approximately 180 mL of cord blood travel from the newborn baby during and after birth. Obstetricians usually clamp the end of the umbilical cord to prevent additional blood from leaving the baby's body, however, clamping can occur naturally. A gelatinous material known as Wharton's jelly swells up shortly after childbirth and closes off the artery and veins in the umbilical cord, trapping the cord blood.

Hematopoietic stem cells are one of the prime features of cord blood. These cells are the building blocks of cellular structure in human blood. These cells are useful in genetic research. Scientists can isolate different genes that can cause genetic disorders or diseases. In this way, the cord blood can be used to help the individual donor or family members with their diseases. Cord blood has shown extensive success in patients needing bone marrow transplants and limited benefits for people with leukemia.

Cord blood is harvested shortly after childbirth. A mother gives birth to child in whatever way she and the doctor have discussed. After the baby is independent, the doctor clamps the umbilical cord to prevent excessive loss of blood back into the neonatal circulatory system. The doctors, then, insert a large extraction needle into the cord and pump the blood out. The cord blood is then stored in a cool condition and transferred to a blood bank for safe keeping.

A system of public cord blood banks have been set up by the National Marrow Donor Program. These banks specialize in storing the cord blood for the general use of the public. Research is performed to isolate certain genetic discrepancies between the cells of fully developed humans and those of newborn babies. Research has proven that cord blood has certain benefits along the same lines as other stem cells, however, the science of blood transfusions has yet to be determined as beneficial.

Controversy over cord blood banks has arisen due to the number of banks that have begun to store newborn baby's blood for money. Private companies have started programs to allow families to store the blood of a newborn at a cost to the family. Most of these companies state that they will store the blood in case of new research in which the blood could become useful, however, the companies themselves do not perform any of that research. Many families with genetic disorders or those that are prone to diseases like cancer, have begun to pay to store the cord blood in the event that a future discovery will make use of the blood in fighting these diseases.