What is a cord blood bank?

Cord blood bank means collecting and storing the baby's cord blood after birth. Umbilical cord blood is what remains after a baby's umbilical cord is cut. A baby's umbilical cord is tightened and cut soon after birth. The umbilical cord connects the baby to the placenta. The placenta grows within the uterus and provides nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetus.

Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells. Stem cells are valuable because they help treat many life-threatening diseases. For most healthy people, stem cell generation is not a problem. Unfortunately, some people are unable to produce enough healthy stem cells due to serious illness or disease. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood could save these people's lives. Umbilical cord blood banks exist to collect and store these stem cells. Healthcare providers use umbilical cord blood stem cells for transplantation into sick people and for medical research.

Cord blood banking is completely voluntary. Some people collect and store the baby's umbilical cord blood, while others do not. If you don't donate or save your baby's cord blood, it will be thrown away along with the placenta. Your doctor will usually provide you with information about cord blood banking during your prenatal visit.

What is umbilical cord blood?

Umbilical cord blood is the blood that remains in the baby's umbilical cord after birth. It resembles normal blood and contains red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Bone marrow also contains special types of stem cells that help strengthen your immune system. These cells are unique in that they can mature and develop into different types of blood cells. The ability to transform into other cells is valuable.

Stem cells can help treat a variety of diseases, including leukemia, genetic disorders, and immune system disorders. Researchers have discovered that umbilical cord blood can be effective in treating up to 80 diseases.

What is the purpose of storing umbilical cord blood?

Umbilical cord blood contains potentially life-saving stem cells. People in need of stem cell transplants benefit from the baby's umbilical cord blood. When stem cells are transplanted into these individuals, they help create new healthy cells. Stem cell transplants help people with:

Cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

Bone marrow disease requiring transplantation.

Anemia-like sickle cell anemia.

Certain disorders of the immune system. 4,444 Researchers are studying umbilical cord blood to see how it can help treat other life-threatening diseases such as Parkinson's disease and diabetes.

How do you find stem cells from umbilical cord blood? The

cord blood bank analyzes and processes the cord blood it receives. Properties can be assigned to any blood and its cells. For stem cells to treat a disease, the characteristics of the donated stem cells and the person receiving them must match. Matching means that these characteristics are similar. If a match is made, the donated stem cells can help the sick person's immune system fight the disease.

If you choose to store your cord blood, your blood will be processed and tested. It is then sorted so that cord blood banks can find the best one for the sick person when they need it.

What types of cord blood banks can be done?

There are two types of cord blood banks: public cord blood banks and private (or family) cord blood banks. They differ in several ways.

Public Cord Blood Banks

Think of public cord blood banks as large donation centers. Donate your baby's umbilical cord blood to save a stranger's life. Most health care providers recommend donating your cord blood to a public bank to help others without putting yourself at risk. Thousands of people seek stem cell donations every year. Stem cells in public banks can be used by anyone who meets the requirements.

Learn more about public cord blood banks.

Free if the hospital is trained to collect cord blood and works with a public cord blood bank.

Umbilical cord blood is donated to those who need it and for medical research.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all public cord blood banks to ensure that cord blood is collected and stored according to specific safety standards.

Anonymous. No one knows that cord blood comes from babies.

Due to eligibility requirements, not everyone can donate.

Private Cord Blood Bank

You can store your baby's cord blood in a private blood bank. This ensures that only your family can use it. Private blood banks can help families with a history of health problems that can be treated with stem cells. It is also beneficial if you have a family member who is currently in need of a stem cell transplant.

More information about public cord blood banks:

You first pay a collection fee and then an annual storage fee. Initial collection fees can cost thousands of dollars. Annual storage fees can cost hundreds of dollars.

Your cord blood is yours. Available to family members only.

It is very unlikely that you will have to use umbilical cord blood. In fact, children usually cannot use their own umbilical cord blood.

FDA does not regulate private cord blood banks.

Some people believe that personal storage will protect them if their baby gets sick. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case. It is highly unlikely that your child will be able to use his or her own umbilical cord blood. Most health care providers recommend storing your baby's cord blood in a private bank only if a sibling with a congenital disease could benefit from stem cells. Most personally stored cord blood is discarded because it is unlikely that this cord blood will be needed.