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What is cord blood?
It is the blood obtained from the umbilical cord at birth. The cord blood contains stem cells. Stem cells are the cells that make all of the other cells in your body, i.e., heart cells, neural cells, etc. These stem cells continue to reproduce throughout life unless they are destroyed by cancer or blood disease. If your stem cells are destroyed, you will die unless they are replaced by transplant.
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What are my options regarding the usage of my baby's cord blood?
As a parent, you have three options:
- Allow the hospital to discard your baby's cord blood.
- Donate the cord blood. This blood will be used to help treat an unrelated third party or for research of new treatments.
- Privately store your baby's stem cells to use in treating future diseases for your family.
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I've heard that stem cells can be obtained from fat retained after liposuction. Is this true?
Although stem cells are present in fat, the yield of these cells is far too low to be considered useful for a successful transplant.
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Are there any physical risks to donating cord blood?
No. Cord blood collection is non-invasive and painless to both the mother and baby. Cord blood collection only takes place after a successful delivery has been accomplished.
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What kind of research are you doing?
Cryobanks is currently involved in supporting research pursuing cures for ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), spinal cord repair and dermal wound repair. We support this research by supplying cord blood not suitable for transplant, in addition to financial funding for these projects. Cryobanks' corporate policy does not permit involvement in any research that is deemed controversial (cloning, embryonics) or cosmetic. Our goal is to advance the field in areas that would save lives. We are constantly seeking worthy projects to become involved in.
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How long has science known about human umbilical cord blood?
France, 1988 - A team of doctors, including Dr. Eliane Gluckman, a member of the Cryobanks International S.A.M.B.A. performed the world’s first successful human cord blood transplant into a child with Fanconi's Anemia. In 1991, a transplant was successfully performed on a child with chronic myelogenous leukemia. These initial accomplishments opened doors to use cord blood for situations where traditional bone marrow was routinely utilized.
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