Cord Blood Storage ? an Overview of Cord Blood Banking Process

After cord blood collection, the blood is saved in bags or vials; it is taken to the cord blood bank through courier service. Once it reaches the bank, the sample is rendered a unique identification number. Thereafter, the doctors separate the stem cells from the blood and store them cryogenically (by freezing them in liquid nitrogen). After that, when needed, the cord blood stem cells are unfreeze and utilized in either Allogeneic Procedures or Autologous Procedures.

Cryopreservation

During cord blood storage, each vial is labeled with cord blood number, name of the baby, date of birth, date of processing, and the contents. Then, it enters the first stage of cryopreservation. The vials are positioned in two cryo-tanks having different temperature and then are submerged into tanks containing liquid nitrogen. This step ensures the safety of stem cells. The series of falling temperature prevents the stem cells from undergoing a shock due to the intense negative temperature of – 32 degree Fahrenheit.

Freezing The Cord Blood- Liquid Nitrogen

To prevent ice crystals from forming over the stem cells, it is important to freeze the cells gradually. For this, a particular controlled-rate freezer is used. The handling processes and the freezers are designed to prevent

Factors Influencing The Decision To Store Cord Blood

Choices in Cord Blood Banking Factors Influencing Parental Decision Making Report ( http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Choices-in-Cord-Blood-Banking-Factors-Influencing-Parental-Decision-Making.html ) gives Importance of cord blood banking.  Cord blood banking is increasingly being used to improve and save lives. Stem cells derived from umbilical blood have been used in more than 8,000 transplants worldwide to treat a wide range of blood diseases, genetic and metabolic disorders, immunodeficiencies and various forms of cancer. However, many expectant parents still do not fully understand the significance of cord blood storage. A study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine shows that a third of expectant parents are unaware of the option to preserve cord blood. Of the two-thirds who have some knowledge, 74% describe themselves as “minimally informed.”  This market report uses end-user surveys of expectant parents and technology-derived data to determine the factors involved in parental-decision making. More than 1,200 expectation parents answered a 35-question online survey between Dec. 1, 2008 – Jan. 15, 2009. The report includes:  

Cord Blood: You Are Your Own Best Donor

When it comes to finding a donor for any medical issue, there are a number of problems and concerns. In most instances, individuals cannot find a proper match for their specific needs, leaving them unable to have a transplant. This is especially true with adoptive children who may not have biological siblings or other family members to check for matches, children without siblings or family members, and individuals of certain races or ethnicities that may not have access to other individuals of their race or ethnicity in their area. Even after a match is found, it is not guaranteed that the transplant will be a success, since the human body is conditioned to repel anything it deems “foreign,” even if the item will potentially save your life. Instead of having to worry about these concerns, imagine serving as your own donor, ensuring a perfect match every time and greatly diminishing the worry about rejection. For these many reasons, you may wish to bank cord blood.

According to the informative Web site Should You Bank Cord Blood, cord blood is the blood that is found within the umbilical cord at birth. The umbilical cord serves as a lifeline between mother and child, allowing nutrients to pass to the child in the womb. Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells, which have the potential to treat and cure a host of diseases, from cancer to Parkinson’s. The unique healing aspects of stem cells revolve around the fact that these cells have yet to be given a specific role to play in the human body. These indeterminate cells have the ability to become any type of cell that the body decides it needs, whether it will become a blood cell, bone cell, muscle cell, or any other cell imaginable, stem cells can transform into any cell most needed.

The reason why stem cells from cord blood work so well in transplants is because they take on the responsibility of the non-working cells they attempt to replace. For instance, in people suffering from leukemia, their body is no longer producing the appropriate number of white blood cells in their bone marrow. Before cord blood, leukemia patients must wait to find a bone marrow match and then undergo and transplant that may or may not work. Instead, the match is guaranteed, since the blood comes directly from your body, and the stem cells quickly translate into cells that will become properly working bone marrow to ensure production of white blood cells to fight the disease. Since stem cells can become any type of cells the body needs most, cord blood is used to treat and potentially cure numerous diseases and disorders, including sickle cell anemia and many forms of cancer, especially those affecting infants and children.

Since no donor is required, you do not have to suffer through the waiting period of seeing if a matching cord blood donor will be found. Treatment can begin immediately, allowing you a better chance for a complete recovery since the disease or disorder will not have taken a great hold on your body. Additionally, you can serve as a cord blood donor to your sick sibling using cord blood that is far more effective than anything else you can give to a brother or sister. Many parents choose to bank cord blood in order to treat another child who is experiencing problems

Why Stem Cells From Cord Blood Instead Of Bone Marrow?

There are several advantages of transplanting stem cells from cord blood instead of from bone marrow. There is also two disadvantages to doing so.

Here are the advantages:

1. Harvesting umbilical blood poses no risk to either mother or child. Conversely, a bone marrow donor must undergo anesthesia and is exposed to the risk of infection.

2. Umbilical blood can be stored in cryogenic freezers, ready for use as soon as it is needed, whereas the process of contacting and testing donors listed in a bone marrow registry takes weeks to months.
Umbilical blood units are stored and ready to use. It can take two months or more to find an unrelated bone marrow donor. An umbilical blood unit can be selected and delivered to the transplant center in less than a week. Your doctor may choose cord blood if you need a transplant quickly. This factor alone makes umbilical blood banking much more appealing.

3. The stem cells in umbilical blood are more primitive than those in bone marrow. As such, they carry much lower incidence of graft versus host disease (GVHD). Thus, cord blood transplants do not require a “perfect match” between the donor and the patient.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication after an allogeneic transplant. GVHD can range from mild to life-threatening. Studies have found that after a cord blood transplant, fewer patients get GVHD than after bone marrow transplants. Patients in the studies who did get GVHD after a cord blood transplant tended to get less severe cases.

4. A close match between the patient and the donor or umbilical blood unit can improve a patient’s outcome after transplant. Even though a closely matched cord blood unit is preferred, clinical studies suggest the match do not have to be as close as is needed for bone marrow transplants. If you have an uncommon tissue type, your doctor may not find a closely matched adult bone marrow donor for you. However, a cord blood unit may be an option.

Here are the disadvantages of transplanting with umbilical blood:

1. The stem cells in cord blood are more primitive than those in bone marrow, and because of this the engraftment process takes longer with cord blood. During this time, the patient is vulnerable to infection for a longer period.

2. A typical umbilical blood harvest only contains enough stem cells to transplant a large child or small adult (weighing approx. 100 pounds). Researchers are developing methods of transplanting adults with cord blood, and this may not be a factor in the near future. When this process is common, cord blood banking will likely become standard procedure after birth.

Cord Blood Collection - Give a New Life

her umbilical cord blood. This is one of the most publicized exercises in today’s medical world. Young parents, mothers in particular are slowly becoming aware of the benefits of the blood found in the umbilical cord joining her with the baby. This umbilical cord blood is rich in life saving stem cells. These stem cells are the building blocks of your baby that can be a better savior of your child in times of need than the very cells that created her! Cord Blood Registry

If incurable diseases run in your family, or if you are from an ethnic minority in the country you are residing, preservation is the best thing you can do for your new born and her siblings. This procedure must be done well in advance. After consultation with your doctor, get in touch with the bank in your city or the one closest to your place of delivery. Ideally, you must apply for this procedure during your second trimester when your pregnancy is well confirmed. You have to undergo a series of medical tests to ensure that you do not have any abnormal genes or other blood related problems to be eligible for preservation. Once the results are out, the applicant is informed. If there is some anomaly, the applicant, the mother to be is advised to consult the doctor about the consequences. If the results are fine, the next step begins. Stem Cells Collection

The mother has to inform her doctor well in advance about her decision in order to avoid confusion in the birthing room. The mother has to carry the kit with her to the hospital when her labor pains start. If it is an elective cesarean, there should be no problems, but if it is an emergency C-section, the decision lies solely on the doctor whether the blood is fit for collection or not, based on the nature of the complication.

The entire process should be completed within 15 minutes of the placenta being delivered. If the cord blood collection is lesser or more than the required amount, the choice lies entirely with the mother whether she wants to donate the unit for scientific research. If there is an urgent need, umbilical cord blood unit may be preserved for stem cells multiplication. After the collection, the unit is couriered to the bank where the mother is registered. Here, the blood is tested again and preserved in highly specialized refrigerators for future use. The identity of the mother and the baby is kept confidential all the time.

This procedure is gaining in popularity in all developed nations in the world mainly because of the increase in the number of one-child families. There may soon be a time when a person will be looking out in vain for a matching donor. And this is when the decision of cord blood collection made by the parents today, will be a blessing.

Cord Blood Banks: Your Childs Future Could Count On It

Banking your newborns cord blood is something that every new parent should do for their newborn, and their family. If your child develops a disorder that affects the blood and immune system, or a cancer, or possibly has inherited a disorder, their umbilical cord blood stem cells can be used to treat them if need be. Immune systems terrorized by radiation and chemotherapy have a hard time battling disease and infection, however, just by using cord blood stem cells there chance is greater too rebuild a patient’s immune system.

Beyond even what you can think of, cord blood stem cells have played a role in treating over 70 known disorders. Besides guaranteeing a perfect match for the child that it came from, it can also aid in helping other siblings, you, or maybe even an ailing grandparent. When your baby is born you have options as to what you want to do with the cord blood. If you aren’t going to store it for your own baby, you may want to donate it so that it is available for public use. Whatever your decision, you should not let you’re the cord blood go to waste.

The primitive nature of cord blood stem cells makes them the most malleable; cord blood stem cells are where white blood cells that fight infection originate from. They are the beginning of all oxygen carrying red blood cells, and the important platelets that clot and heal. They are preferred over bone marrow stem cells for many reasons. The retrieval method causes no discomfort to either mom or baby, the match doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be successfully used, and there is even less of chance of a viral infection. There have been more than 45 malignant and non-malignant diseases in children and adults, including leukemias, and lymphomas treated with stem cell transplantation. There are currently hopes that stem cells will even one day treat Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Cord Blood Collection - Give Life Another Chance

The increasing popularity of cord blood collection all over the world is a very positive sign. What was regarded as a waste earlier is now considered most valuable after the delivery of the baby. Yes, I am referring to the umbilical cord blood and the placenta. It is the source of valuable stem cells that are required to cure dozens of diseases. Some Basics

The collection process in itself is a very quick 15 minutes job. However, the cord blood registry process can take a lot of time. It is suggested that the parents-to-be register at the nearest bank at least three to four months ahead of the delivery date. This process is not just filling an application form; it includes an extensive series of medical tests to ensure that the mother-to-be’s blood is free from infectious diseases and genetic abnormalities. Once the donor clears the medical tests, the registration process is completed. The mother is given the collection kit which she needs to carry with her to the delivery center. She needs to inform the doctor about her plans well in advance in order to avoid any confusion in the labor room. After the delivery, the umbilical cord blood is extracted and stored in specialized packets provided and the bank is informed. The bank sends its representative to collect the blood and couriers it to the preservation center.

A point to be noted here is that there is a minimum amount of blood stipulated for successful preservation. If the amount is less, then the decision lies with the mother whether she wants to continue with the collection or donate it for research. If the situation so requires, the stem cells collected can be processed for immediate use by another patient.

Cord blood collection is an important decision as it could either be a lifesaver for your child and its siblings or it could turn out to be just an expense for the next twenty years. Either way, people who go in for preservation, prefer to look at it as a family insurance. Fifteen years down the line, if you feel that your children have grown up without any problems and are not likely to need the cord blood unit, you can choose to sell it off via the cord blood bank to a needy person.

Benefits Of Cord Blood Banking

The primary benefit to cord blood banking is that it provides a type of medical insurance. This insurance is not from a financial prospective, but rather takes the form of having the necessary medical building blocks available should they be needed in the event of certain illnesses and diseases. Those medical building blocks are the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood.

In the past 5 or 6 years, there have been dramatic medical advances in the arena of stem cell research, and more discoveries are announced practically every month. Many doctors and researchers see great potential in the use of stem cells to reverse or cure many severe, life-threatening diseases. With these facts in mind, many parents are choosing to preserve the stems cells found in umbilical cord blood after birth. There are no health risks in doing so. The primary risk is that the yearly $100 fee for storage will be wasted in the event that the stem cells are never needed.

More and more parents are taking notice of the advances in stem cell research. Here are some highlights:

Transplant science is constantly improving. Several companies are bringing to market methods of “expanding” the stem cell population in the laboratory, and these methods are starting to be applied in clinical trials.

The evolution from pluripotent stem cells down to blood stem cells is currently poorly understood. The latest indication is that, under the right conditions, stem cells in cord blood can be teased to grow into other types of tissue besides blood. This would open up an entire new realm of potential treatment through the use of stem cells.

As a result of these advances, it is not unreasonable to hope that cord blood may eventually be used to treat a wider variety of auto-immune and degenerative diseases than is currently being done. If so, (and there are solid indications by researchers that this indeed is the case), it makes perfect sense to consider private cord blood banking.

The arguments in favor of private banking are several:

1. As today’s children grow up and some of them develop cancer as adults, autologous (self) cord blood transplants will become more common used. Pediatric cancers and adult cancers are completely different diseases at the cellular level (to learn more about cancer visit the website of the National Cancer Institute). While pediatric cancer patients rarely receive autologous transplants, among adult cancer patients the autologous transplants are more common than transplants from donors.

2. Recent news reports constantly announce new medical advances using stem cells. Future applications will probably include tissue repair to various organs of the body.

3. Families should consider is whether the odds given for the “average baby” apply to them. Some families do have a higher predisposition to cancer and immune disorders, and would be far more likely to benefit from cord blood banking than the statistics indicate.

4. If your family, especially your children, are of mixed ethnic background, it may be impossible to find an adult bone marrow donor who is a perfect match. In that event, cord blood from even a partially matched sibling would be invaluable if a stem cell transplant is necessary.

Cord Blood Stem Cells: The Beginning Of All Blood Cells

All stem cells are created equal but can all become superheroes with their own special powers. You have probably heard about the mystical power of cord blood. But did you know how they work and what makes the cord blood stem cells different than all of the other alternatives.
Stem cells, in general terms, represent the buds of all of the organ cells in the body. If the body had its own tool shed, it would have racks of these minute particles for all organs. In such a tool shed, you would only need to have one specimen of stem cell, because any time the cell divides, it creates more that have the equal power as the original cell, to remain a stem cell or become specialized for a particular organ. This is true for all stem cells except for blood, muscle, and nerve, which do not normally replicate themselves. To understand this point, it is important to learn about the types of these cells by purpose.
Types
The chief types are:
Pluripotent
Stromal
Hematopoietic
Pluripotent are capable of turning into any kind of cell making up the body. They are chiefly derived from human embryonic stem cells. In comparison, adult cells are capable of replicating themselves into more cells for the same purpose as the original cells in order to repair the organ tissue where they reside.
Stromal are a kind of cells that form bone, cartilage, fat, and fibrous connective tissue.
Hematopoietic create red and white blood cells and platelets. The latest research has shown some promise of hemapoietic capability to form other cells in the body in addition to blood cells. This type is found in baby cord blood and adult bone marrow.
Cord blood Stem cells
So what role does umbilical blood play. It is a rich repository of blood stem cells that can differentiate to create red and white blood cells and platelets, which are crucial in treating genetic diseases, cancers, and disorders of blood and immune system.
Compared to bone marrow, cord blood stem cells are easier to harvest because they are easily obtainable from placenta after delivery and so do not involve a surgical procedure. They can be put in a cord blood bank and easily prepared for use either for the donor or another recipient regardless of relationship.
Cord blood has already proven successful in treating leukemia, anemia, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, and many other blood and immune system diseases, cancers, and disorders. Scientists had been skeptical about using this blood on the sickened donors because of the bloods established genetic predisposition to become diseased, but recently Illinois doctors successfully treated leukemia through this route, proving the much anticipated fruitfulness of the banking cord blood.

Cord Blood Banking: A Medical Safety Net

The primary benefit to cord blood banking is that it provides a type of medical insurance. This insurance is not from a financial prospective, but rather takes the form of having the necessary medical building blocks available should they be needed in the event of certain illnesses and diseases. Those medical building blocks are the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood.

In the past 5 or 6 years, there have been dramatic medical advances in the arena of stem cell research, and more discoveries are announced practically every month. Many doctors and researchers see great potential in the use of stem cells to reverse or cure many severe, life-threatening diseases. With these facts in mind, many parents are choosing to preserve the stems cells found in umbilical cord blood after birth. There are no health risks in doing so. The primary risk is that the yearly $100 fee for storage will be wasted in the event that the stem cells are never needed.

More and more parents are taking notice of the advances in stem cell research. Here are some highlights:

Transplant science is constantly improving. Several companies are bringing to market methods of “expanding” the stem cell population in the laboratory, and these methods are starting to be applied in clinical trials.

The evolution from pluripotent stem cells down to blood stem cells is currently poorly understood. The latest indication is that, under the right conditions, stem cells in cord blood can be teased to grow into other types of tissue besides blood. This would open up an entire new realm of potential treatment through the use of stem cells.

As a result of these advances, it is not unreasonable to hope that cord blood may eventually be used to treat a wider variety of auto-immune and degenerative diseases than is currently being done. If so, (and there are solid indications by researchers that this indeed is the case), it makes perfect sense to consider private cord blood banking.

The arguments in favor of private banking are several:

1. As today’s children grow up and some of them develop cancer as adults, autologous (self) cord blood transplants will become more common used. Pediatric cancers and adult cancers are completely different diseases at the cellular level (to learn more about cancer visit the website of the National Cancer Institute). While pediatric cancer patients rarely receive autologous transplants, among adult cancer patients the autologous transplants are more common than transplants from donors.

2. Recent news reports constantly announce new medical advances using stem cells. Future applications will probably include tissue repair to various organs of the body.

3. Families should consider is whether the odds given for the “average baby” apply to them. Some families do have a higher predisposition to cancer and immune disorders, and would be far more likely to benefit from cord blood banking than the statistics indicate.

4. If your family, especially your children, are of mixed ethnic background, it may be impossible to find an adult bone marrow donor who is a perfect match. In that event, cord blood from even a partially matched sibling would be invaluable if a stem cell transplant is necessary.

All about Bone Marrow and Cord Blood Transplants

For the treatment of diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma and many other diseases which can pose as threats to survival, the umbilical cord blood plays a vital role in healing them. A cord blood transplant is a viable option for the treatment of any such disease.

The flexible tissue which is located in the interior of the bones which is hollow is known as the bone marrow. Marrows produce new blood cells in adults. A bone marrow transplant provides one with healthy bone marrow stem cells. The process involves replacement of the bone marrow which does not work with the one that functions properly. Cord blood transplant is widely chosen over bone marrow transplantation.

Cord blood traces its root to the umbilical cord at the time of the birth of a newborn child, after the latter has been detached from the baby. The primary reason for the collection of cord blood is because it contains the very useful stem cells, which includes hematopoietic cells or cells that are capable of forming blood components in the human body. Some of the blood remains on the umbilical cord portion remaining attached to it. This additional blood is no longer required by the nascent baby. Cord blood consists of all the vital blood elements including the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Cord blood is therefore used for transplantation instead of bone marrow.

Cord blood transplantation is chosen and preferred because of the following reasons:

However, there are some drawbacks of choosing cord blood transplant as well. For instance, the number of blood forming cells in a cord blood unit may be lesser as compared to the patient size. Moreover, the engrafting time is longer.

Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant is more widely accepted as compared to the bone marrow transplantations. One more reason for this is that the problem of graft versus host disease has lesser probability in cord blood transplant, i.e., the transplanted blood do not usually attack the recipient’s body. Thus, all the above reasons make umbilical cord transplants potent resources for transplantation therapies and add to their wide usage.

Cord Blood Benefits

With cord blood becoming the talk of town, let’s have a look at the bright as well as the dark sides of this miracle blood that promises to treat many life-threatening diseases in the near future.

Cord Blood Transplantation contains the stem cells which serve as the basic building block for the immune system. The stem cells have a very special property that it can transform into other cells that enable normal growth in our body. Hence these stem cell therapy is important for treating certain types of disorders of the blood and metabolic disorders.

Stem Cell Treatment is used to treat mainly blood disorders and cancers, of which there are 200 to 400 new cases annually in Singapore only. Cord blood used to treat aggressive leukemia especially in children and is often used when bone marrow donors can’t be found. Leukemia probably being the most common problem solved. Umbilical cord blood is used in this transplant just like how it been done on bone marrow. Moreover the stem cells are necessary for proper development of the organs of the body and the immune system in our body. People who suffer from blood disorders might find a lot of cord blood uses for treating their disorders. Treating Leukemia and anemia are some of the cord blood uses and hence its benefits can’t be ignored.

in treating such disorders apart from its uses in treating metabolic disorders in a baby. If you have the cord blood in a blood bank you are assured of its use whenever there is a use of it in the future. Families which have a history of genetic diseases can store the cord blood in a blood bank so that they can avail the services of that blood bank whenever they need it. as an excellent resource for stem cells finds its uses in many treatments.

general people by treating acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, Myeloproliferative Disorders, Lymph proliferative Disorders, Phagocyte Disorders, and Other Inherited Disorders. Inherited Platelet Abnormalities, Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Histiocytic Disorders, Erythrocyte Abnormalities, Immune System Disorders, and Plasma Cell Disorders are some of the other disorders that are treated with cord blood.

As per the findings it has been estimated that cord blood can treat more than 80 diseases using Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) transplants, including leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and metabolic disorders.

Research has shown in recent years that survival rates have double when a person’s own cord blood or a family member’s cord blood is used.

One of the most important is that it does not need a perfect match. This Cord blood can be transplanted even if there is only a partial match between donor and recipient. The recipient is at fewer risks of complications by cord blood transplant. The immune cells present in cord blood are less likely to attack the tissue of patient (graft vs. host disease) as compared to bone marrow transplant. Also, cord blood is less likely to spread certain viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), which is a deadly infection that strikes transplant recipients. Nearly half of the adult population of America is the carrier of CMV in the form of latent virus. Besides this, less than 1 percent of babies are born with CMV.

Protect the Future of Your Family with Umbilical Cord Blood Banking

All parents love to welcome newborn babies into their family. They try to make their newborn as comfortable as possible. The birth of a baby not only brings happiness, but also new responsibilities for the parents. Most of the parents feel that the most important and foremost thing that they must do, is immunize their baby. Unfortunately, a lot of people are unaware of the importance of cord blood. Cord blood refers to the blood found inside the placenta and the umbilical cord after the birth of a baby. The blood is extracted from the umbilical cord and it is mainly collected for the presence of stem cells and other hematopoietic cells, which are vital for the treatment of blood and other genetic disorders. Stem cells are also known as the building blocks of our body, which helps the organ, regenerate and heal.

Cord blood storage promises a safer future for your baby and the rest of your family. It is mainly used in the field of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine includes the replacement or repair of an organ, which has been lost or damaged due to aging, disease or some other congenital problems. This type of treatment allows the organs to heal themselves by stimulating the existing cells. Regenerative medicine also allows the scientists to grow artificial organs in the laboratory and then place them inside the body of the patient. This can prove to be very beneficial for those patients who need organ replacement, but are unable to find one due to acute shortage of organ donors. Cord Blood Storage is very important for regenerative medicine as it contains stem cells, which can be used to treat diseases such as; brain injury, diabetes and in the treatment of cardiovascular problems.

The stem cells in the cord blood have the ability to heal approximately 80 diseases, which includes cancer, metabolic disorder, blood disorder, bone marrow failure syndromes, and other immune system deficiencies. A recent study has found that injected cord blood stem cells can slower the decline of insulin production in babies with type 1 diabetes. The studies have also shown positive effect on cardiovascular injuries and in the treatment of brain injury. Cord blood storage can also help the other members of the family, as organ transplants by close relatives tend to be more successful compared to unrelated donor transplants. Nowadays, you will be able to find numerous cord blood banks, which offer you easy cord blood collection options.

Due to its future potential, umbilical cord blood banking has become quite popular resulting in the formation of cord blood banks. One of the pioneers amongst the numerous cord blood banks is familycord.com. They allow you to store the cord blood in their blood bank in exchange of an annual fee, which varies according to the time for which to wish to save the blood. For instance, if you wish to save the cord blood in the bank for one year you need to pay $125 annually, whereas saving the cord blood for twenty years would cost you around $90 per year. Discounts of up to $600 are also available for students, military service providers, health care providers, twins and triplets.

This California based cryo bank company familycord.com was found in 1997; however its cryogenic services have been availed by people since 1977. Today in the field of umbilical cord blood banking family cord has come as a relief for many families. It has so far been successfully used to treat blood cancer, which is one of the most life threatening diseases in the world. Further research is being carried out to check the efficiency of cord blood stem cells in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, Cerebral Palsy, stroke, Spinal cord injury, heart disease and diabetes. Umbilical Cord blood banking is especially beneficial for those families who have a history of the aforementioned diseases in their family. The cord blood collection procedure is relative simple and it only takes around 5 or 10 minutes. However, this little time can help your baby as well as the other members of your family. So go and contact familycord.com today to have a better future tomorrow!

 

Choose a Cord Blood Bank You Can Count On

After youve decided to bank your babys cord blood, its important to spend time researching to find the right cord blood bank for your investment. This may seem like a daunting task as there are many private banking services available and there are many factors to consider when weighing your options.

If youre not sure where to begin or what to look for in a cord blood bank, consider the following points as guidelines for your research:

Accreditations/Certifications

What accreditations or certifications does the cord blood bank hold? The bank you select should be fully accredited by the AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks) for the specialized processing and storage of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells. Other important criteria to look for include registration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), certification by ISO (International Organization for Standardization), cGMP-/cGTP-compliant practices, and licensing in states with applicable regulations.

Stem Cell Collection

Does the company offer you the ability to bank more stem cells by collecting both cord blood and placental-derived stem cells or is stem cell collection limited to cord blood only? By collecting stem cells from both your babys umbilical cord blood and the placenta, you significantly increase the number of stem cells banked. This improves the potential for a successful transplant should your family ever need the stem cells youre storing.

Red Blood Cell Depletion

Ask cord blood banks about their practices regarding red blood cell depletion. Specifically, ask them what percentage of red blood cells will be removed from your babys cord blood during processing. Its important that they remove as many red blood cells (RBC) as possible from the cord blood before the unit is cryogenically preserved try to find a bank that can provide 90% depletion or better. Transplant physicians prefer stem cell collections that are RBC depleted (as much as possible) as they pose fewer risks to the recipient and increase the chance that the collection can be used for a family member (reduces the potential for ABO/RH incompatibility).

Successful Storage and Release of Stem Cells

Does the cord blood bank have a proven track record of storing and releasing stem cells for transplant? Ask how many units have been banked and how many have been successfully released. If units have been released for transplant, find out whether a unit has ever been rejected due to poor viability or low cell count.

Financial Stability & Longevity

Is the cord blood bank financially stable? You should seek out a bank with a strong track record and a good reputation. It should be easy to access the financial status and profitability of publicly-traded cord blood banks. Also, while the cord blood banking industry is relatively new, its still important to look for a company thats been around for a number of years. Other positive signs include a companys active participation in furthering advancements in stem cell research and its affiliations with hospitals or universities.

Transplantation Shipping Process

In addition to researching a companys collection and storage practices, you should ask about the cord blood banks transplantation shipping process. If the storedstem cells are called upon for transplant, will the unit be shipped via a commercial delivery service or via a specialized medical courier to ensure safe transit? A preferred transport method uses liquid nitrogen dry shippers, which are designed to safely transport stem cell units at cryogenic temperatures and will maintain the stem cell unit(s) at -190 degrees Celsius for 14 days.

Back-Up Facilities

Does the cord blood bank have a backup storage facility? Multiple storage facilities provide extra security for your banked cord blood. Are the facilities owned by the bank or contracted through a third-party? There is greater assurance that your cord blood will be handled properly if the bank plays a dedicated role throughout processing and storage.

Pricing Options & Guarantees

Finally, dont just base your comparison on pricing. Consider how the cord blood bank compares when it comes to pricing options. Look for a bank that offers a range of pricing options for enrollment and long-term storage so you can pick a plan that works best within your budget.

What guarantees does the cord blood bank offer, if any? Carefully examine the companys refund policy. If your cord blood cannot be processed, will you be refunded the processing fees? Also, if the bankedstem cells do not engraft when called upon for transplant, will the cord blood bank search its donated inventory for a match, free-of-charge? If an acceptable unit is not found, will the company provide financial backing to help procure a match, if available, from a public registry?

Conclusion

These are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a cord blood bank. If you focus on finding a company that addresses these factors through its medical expertise and state-of-the-art practices and facilities, you can be confident that youve found acord blood bank you can count on.

3 Reasons to Donate Umbilical Cord Blood to a Public Bank

A baby’s cord blood, or the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after delivery used to be discarded after birth. However, this blood is typically rich in stem cells, which can currently be used to treat many diseases. Although some forms of stem cell collections are controversial, since collecting stem cells from the umbilical cord is safe, painless, and derived from the normal birthing process, so it is as non-controversial as donating blood, and just as potentially lifesaving. Many parents choose to save their baby’s cord blood and have it stored with a private bank, so that it will be available for family use if needed. Others choose to donate the blood to a public bank for the public good. If you are considering either saving or donating your baby’s umbilical blood, here are three great reasons to consider donation to a public bank:

1) Public Donation is No Cost To You. In general donation to a private bank will cost about $1700 the first year and approximately $125 each year thereafter. However, cord blood donation is free to parents. The public cord blood banks pay for the collection, testing and storing of the umbilical cord blood. SO if the cost of private donation is prohibitive for you and your family, you may want to consider public donation. Although public donation means the blood is available for anyone who is a match, if the cord blood you donate is a match for a given transplant, it will be available to you unless it has already been used by another person. And in some cases, the likelihood of it having been used is low since in general less than 10 percent of banked units are used. And while you can’t guarantee availability with a Public Bank, the more people that donate to a public cord blood bank, the higher the likelihood for a match from any donor source.

2) You May Help Save the Life of Another. Let’s face it, you have a potentially life-saving product available at the time of delivery. You no longer need it, use it, or can keep it. Your options – treat it as medical waste and throw it away, or allow it to be collected, at no cost to you, and potentially save someone’s life. Seriously, it makes the decision so much easier when you look at it like that. The collection is painless, completely safe for you and your baby (the blood is collected only AFTER it has been separated from you and your baby) and free. There really is no reason to allow it to be discarded when it can provide so many benefits.

3) Public Donation Provides Samples for Needed Research. Even if for some reason your donation isn’t eligible for transplant purposes, it can still be used for research. And research is what leads doctors to know how to treat illnesses and new ways to use cord blood to treat and even possibly prevent illnesses in the future. If you know the cure for cancer was in your kitchen wastebasket, wouldn’t you let someone have full access to it? Well, that may be a long shot – but in the case of cord blood – there is so much we have already learned about its potential for treating and prevents diseases, that it is very likely that your simple donation can be used to help researches learn more about the treatment and prevention of cancer and other diseases in the future.

While not all states have public cord banks, you can ask your hospital whether it accepts cord blood donations for research purposes. With all the potential benefits derived from cord blood, really the decisions isn’t whether or not you should save your baby’s cord blood, but whether you choose public or private banking.

Cord Blood Transplantation ? A Life Savior Technique

The cord Blood which was discarded soon after the birth of a baby is regarded as a life saving device for the future generations of a family. It has thereby become imperative to save the precious blood which is rich instem cells necessary for the treatment of several life threatening diseases. In the past ten years, several cord blood transplantations have been performed worldwide as an alternative for treating cancer and serious genetic disorders. The first cord blood transplant was done in 1988

There are various sources of retreiving stem cells and Umbilical cord blood is one of the three sources for obtaining the blood-forming cells used in transplants. The other two sources are bone marrow and peripheral (circulating) blood. It is collected at the time of delivery after the birth of the baby. The blood from the cord is collected carefully by the hospital staff who are trained in the service. It is then tested, frozen and stored at acord blood bank for future use. The stored blood is called a cord blood unit (cbu).

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry includes more than 70,000 cbu. Doctors search the NMDP Registry of adult marrow or peripheral blood cell donors and cbus to find a suitable HLA match for their patients who need a transplant. If selected, the matching blood is transfused to a patient. The transplant process is the same as for marrow andperipheral blood cell transplants

The use of cord blood transplants has grown for both children and adults. It is used more often in children because an umbilical cord holds a limited amount of blood. The number of blood-forming cells in a transplant should match the size of the patient

Cord Blood Cell Transplant India -Low Cost Cord Blood Cell Transplant

 

 

Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant

Stem cells have a remarkable capability to divide persistently and differentiate into different types of cells present in our body. From red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to bone, cartilage, fibrous connective tissue, and fat, stem cells have the ability to form each and every type of cell present in the body. Although stem cells can be produced in other ways, in adults, bone marrow is the primary source of stem cells…..

 

What is Stem Cell Transplant ?

Stem cell transplant is an intricate procedure in which healthy stem cells are infused into the body to replace damaged stem cells. Before introducing the healthy stem cells, the patient is given high dose chemotherapy to destroy all the diseased, as well as normal blood-producing, stem cells in the bone marrow…..

 

Where Do the Stem Cells for Stem Cell Transplant Come From ?

Stem cells for stem cell transplant come from four primary sources : –

A 

Cord Blood Cell Transplant Abroad At Affordable Cost - Cord Blood Cell

 

 

 

 

Stem cells have a remarkable capability to divide persistently and differentiate into different types of cells present in our body. From red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to bone, cartilage, fibrous connective tissue, and fat, stem cells have the ability to form each and every type of cell present in the body. Although stem cells can be produced in other ways, in adults, bone marrow is the primary source of stem cells…..

 

What is Stem Cell Transplant ?

Stem cell transplant is an intricate procedure in which healthy stem cells are infused into the body to replace damaged stem cells. Before introducing the healthy stem cells, the patient is given high dose chemotherapy to destroy all the diseased, as well as normal blood-producing, stem cells in the bone marrow…..

 

Where Do the Stem Cells for Stem Cell Transplant Come From ?

Stem cells for stem cell transplant come from four primary sources : –

A

Babycell - Tissue Umbilical Cord Blood in India

Saving your baby’s cord blood stem cells is an important investment in your family’s health. It’s an investment that will continue to grow as new treatments are showing significant promise every day.

 

When making the decision to store your child’s cord blood, you’ll need to balance the financial aspect with your own set of values, needs and wants. All of our clients were once in the same dilemma. But looking back, they are happy to have taken the right decision i.e. to store their baby’s priceless cord blood with

BabyCell.

CORD BLOOD BANKING

 

Cord blood is a rich source of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs). Not only is it a valuable source of stem cells, but is also genetically unique to the baby and family. Cord blood offers unique advantages over bone marrow during transplantation.

 

 

Umbilical Cord blood bank is a facility that stores and preserves the stem cells derived from the umbilical cord of the new born baby. The first 5 minutes following birth, gives only one chance to collect and save

your newborn’s umbilical cord blood. This umbilical cord blood is an abundant source of stem cells. These

stem cells are the “Master” cells of the human body and carry the ability to create tissue, organs and organ

systems. Besides being able to divide indefinitely, they possess the ability to transform into specialized cells.

These stem cells are used to treat many life threatening diseases.

 

 

 

stem cell therapy

A stem cell therapy is a treatment that uses stem cells to replace, repair or regenerate a patient’s cells or tissues that are damaged. The stem cells might be put into the blood or transplanted into the damaged tissue directly or even recruited from the patient’s own tissues for self-repair.

 

 

umbilical cord blood

Umbilical cord is the connecting cord between the mother & the baby when the baby is in the womb. It carries oxygen & nutrients to the baby. Blood left in the umbilical cord & placenta after the baby is born is known as the “Umbilical Cord Blood”.

 

Why bank cord blood

Cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Current research demonstrates presence of

stem cells with a potential to differentiate to heart, pancreas, nervous tissues etc

 

Expecting a baby

You will be made aware of the concept of stem cell banking by your own doctor. After which the relationship executive of BabyCell would counsel you and your family about the benefits of preserving your baby’s umbilical cord blood with BabyCell.

 

 

Mother Care Program

 

 

Now BabyCell offers you FREE ANTENATAL PROGRAM by one of the most famous Nutritionist.

 

Three Ways to Avail Free ANC by BabyCell.

 

Donating Your Newborns Umbilical Cord Blood

Lots of new mothers to be aren’t even aware of of cord blood banking, in spite of its ever-growing use and continual research. Currently used to aid with ot treat a variety of medical conditions and with more uses being researched continually, it’s important that more families hear about cord blood benefits to grow the number of donors of this valuable resource.Cord blood is that which remains in both the placenta and umbilical cord following birth. This blood contains a high quantity of stem cells that can be used to care for a number of diseases and genetic disorders. Collection is considered quite a safe practice as a whole, with virtually no potential risk for mother or newborn provided the collection is done right.During a vaginal delivery, cord blood is normally collected before the placenta is delivered but after the child has been cut from the cord. Collection of the blood is performed either via gravity draining from the cord, or by needle extraction. Whichever way, as both the placenta and umbilical cord are separated from both mother and child, the process is completely painless.Stem cells taken from cord blood collection have been used already to aid with or heal dozens of diseases; including different forms of Anemia, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Osteoporosis, along with various other severe illnesses. Further study continues to uncover additional uses for cord blood, and also methods for growing the number of stem cells from blood collected.While there are an increasing number of private cord blood banks opening world wide, more parents are choosing to donate the blood to public cord banks. Public cord blood banks amass collected blood for public use and research, and generally won’t charge those donating for storage or collection supplies. While donors should ask before collection, hospital staff typically do not charge anything for public cord blood collection as well. Physicians are able to access this cord blood for those that need related treatments, and the more the public banks expand, the better the chance of suitable matches being available. With all the current medical treatments available as well as the many more being studied, there is no reason not to participate in umbilical cord blood banking, either through public donation or a private bank. Many people are only aware of private banking choices which can be fairly costly, through donating, developing the very stem cell reserves that they might need to access at a later time benefits us all.

Cord Blood Is Worth Banking

Since 1997 FamilyCord has been offering affordable and quality cord blood storage to families who felt that their children may at some point develop certain types of genetic disorders, cancers, and leukemia’s. This desire to protect their children and to let them grow into happy, healthy adults is the same desire that FamilyCord has. Because of this desire, FamilyCord offers quality and affordable umbilical cord blood banking to be utilized at anytime in the future. In addition to being able to help the child that supplied the cord blood, their unique stem cells can help a sibling or a parent as well. Cord blood banking is the safest, non invasive procedure used to collect stem cells, and can be made available much faster than if the traditional manner of extracting bone marrow from a donor is used. And when it’s a life a death situation, every moment counts. Umbilical cord blood banking is an easy way to ensure protection for your children and yourself for many years to come. At FamilyCord you have the option of storing your families cord blood from one year to indefinitely. When you first enroll to have your newborn’s cord blood banked you have the option of public donation. After 10 years of storage if you feel that you’d like to open the opportunity for another family that needs a stem cell transplant your stem cells will be made available. Today, there are over 70 separate disorders that stem cells are used to treat. This door is wide open when it comes to future uses of stem cells. Many parents fear that their collection of cord blood may be painful to their child in some way. Because cord blood is extracted after birth and from the already detached umbilical cord and placenta the baby has no way of knowing or feeling the collection. When you decide to use FamilyCord for your umbilical cord blood banking you will be sent a collection kit that is considered to be one of the best is the industry. Your collection kit is easy to use, and your physician, nurse or midwife will collect it and put it in the patented storage container. Within 48 hours of collection your stem cells will be processed and you will be notified. Collection is quick, painless and easy to do, and shipped directly from your hospital to FamilyCord via their designated courier, AirNet. Other than financial obligations there really isn’t an excuse to avoid umbilical cord blood banking. You’ll find that the cost of storing the cord blood is very affordable at FamilyCord, and if you can’t make a one-time payment for storage there are also payment plans that you can take advantage of. If you would like to learn more about the services that FamilyCord offers, visit their website FamilyCord.com. You’ll find it is full of useful information about stem cells, their storage and stem cell applications. Or call a cord blood educator at 800-490-CORD for details.

The Wonders of Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant

A Stem Cell transplant can really do wonders when treating patients whose stem cells are weakened or extirpated by some chronic or genetic disease. Stem Cells have the ability to multiply their type and recreate other cell types like red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. There are various sources of stem cells, today.Bone Marrow was considered as the primary source of stem cells till other sources were discovered. These can be successfully retrieved from Peripheral blood and Cord Blood. For a transplant the stem cells can either be taken from thebone marrow of the patient himself or from a donor.

The Umbilical Cord Blood is a healthy and easy source of stem cells these days. The cord blood and the placenta are a rich source of stem cells that can be retrieved, processed and stored. This cord blood is easily obtained at the time of birth of the baby and as such does not harm the delivery process, the mother and the baby in any ways.

Today cord blood stem cells are used for the treatment of multiple diseases like Leukemia and Lymhomas. In addition, they are also beneficial for the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer, Parkinson , Stroke, Lou Grehig and other spinal cord injuries.

A stem cell transplant is a procedure by which the

The Importance Of Cord Blood

The blood that stays in the baby’s placenta and remains attached to the umbilical cord even after cutting is what we can call cord blood. It is generally loaded with stem cells and can be used later in life to cure several fatal diseases. Earlier, this blood was not given importance in medicine and no one would store the blood for future medical use. However, the importance of this blood was discovered after thorough research and it is now possible to save this blood. Several banks specialize in the storage of this kind of blood. The reason cord blood is so important is because it has stem cells. These stem cells can regenerate themselves and form other organs, tissues etc. They have natural properties to develop immunity since they are not exposed to virus or any other diseases. The blood is pure and immature, thus it is even better than bone marrow. Research states that almost 80 diseases can be treated with stem cells and it can be used any time in the future. However, these cells have a life span; they cannot be stored for more than 15 years. Nevertheless, technological advancement may increase the storage life of these cells. In this article, we shall discuss the advantages of cord blood. AdvantagesNo need for perfect match

Cord Blood Banking 101

Cord blood is the blood present in the umbilical cord and placenta before, during, and after birth of an infant. Just like bone marrow, it contains an abundant amount of stem cells which can be used to treat many types of diseases.

Cord blood banking is the storage and preservation of cord blood at a facility for future use. There are two types of facilities: private and public banks. Private banks are facilities which store and preserve your baby’s cord blood for a fee, usually costing between $1500-$2400 initially and between $100-$150 annually for storage. Public banks, on the other hand, are facilities which you can donate your baby’s cord blood free of charge. The donated blood is then available for use by anyone in need of a stem cell transplant. If choosing to store or donate your baby’s cord blood, notify the cord blood bank of your choice (private or public) as soon as possible, ideally before the 34th week of your pregnancy.

The collection procedure is both safe and painless for you and your baby. The blood is collected immediately after the birth of your baby and before the delivery of the placenta. Once your baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut and the blood is collected from the umbilical vein. The procedure only takes a few minutes. The sample must be collected within 15 minutes after your baby is born. It can be taken using either a syringe to remove the blood (syringe method) from the vein or by allowing it to drain by gravity into a collection bag (bag method).

Once collected, a medical courier takes the specimen to your desired facility’s laboratory to process, test and freeze (cryopreserve) the blood. It will be analyzed to ensure a large enough sample of stem cells have been obtained and tested for the presence of any infectious disease. Testing will also include HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigens) typing which is used to find a donor and recipient match when the blood is needed. When needed, the facility thaws and prepares the blood for transplantation.

Cord blood was once thought of as medical waste, but with the advances in technology, it can now be used to save lives.

Cover Your Medical Bases By Storing Umbilical Cord Blood

We live in a cautious society, one that has become increasingly more so in recent years. We don’t like to take chances with anything and so, whether through taxes or personal expenditure, we devote a large percentage of our income to failsafes like policing, insurance and home security systems. The automobiles we drive reflect this growing emphasis on risk management. Only forty years ago, it was easy to find cars that didn’t come equipped with seat belts. Vehicles today often boast pre-tensioned, three point seat belts for all occupants, multiple airbags, whiplash resistant headrests, a steel safety cage and a computerized stability control system. Models rolling out shortly will include improved, directional headlights and radar assisted collision avoidance systems. We shop for family cars while clutching data on crash statistics for various models while our parents tended to focus on things like color and the amount of room inside. A relatively recent trend has allowed people to extend their cautious outlook and concern for covering all the bases for the health of themselves and their families. Not just through medical insurance, although that is certainly an important component of many peoples’ personal health mitigation strategy. In what has become a game changing option for many people, it is now possible to collect the blood from your child’s umbilical cord after birth and store the material in a cryogenic facility for future use. Medical research has shown cord blood stem cells are effective in treating a wide range of debilitating diseases and conditions, including: Sickle Cell Anemia, Hodgkin’s Disease, acute and chronic Leukemia and Tay Sachs Disease; over seventy different diseases to date. Studies have also shown promise for using stem cell transplants to fight Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease, among others. In the past, the umbilical cord was disposed of after birth, considered medical waste. Stem cell treatment is showing every sign of being one of the most significant breakthroughs in modern medicine, but early efforts were dogged by controversy due largely to use of embryonic tissue. Collecting and cryogenically preserving the cord blood stem cells from your own child’s birth resolves two important issues: the means of obtaining the stem cells has no ethical implications and the use of donor material from related family members is typically far more successful in treatment than material donated by a stranger. A few decades ago, going to this extreme might have seemed excessive. Today, it only seems like common sense, providing protection and future treatment options for yourself and your family.

On Cord Blood Banks and Parental Guilt

Remember your first visit? Remember grabbing all of those brochures? Remember those cute little babies looking at you, trying to make sure you do the right thing? After all, what kind of a parent are you if you can’t even find the thousands of dollars to invest in preserving your newborn’s umbilical cord blood? And then, after a while, you see these babies everywhere. They’re on the doctor’s wall, the blood bank company’s name is on the doctor’s pen. The hospital’s welcome package. Hiding between all the paperwork you get in the classes. Do these companies own our hospitals? And since when are we so clear about Class in this country? Aren’t we supposed to hide the fact that rich people live longer and better? So then you either get the money to save the blood, or you don’t. And if you don’t, you hope for the best, spending your time wondering if you’ve done the right thing. After all, you could have just applied for a new credit card, no?

So it’s always a small joy to read an article that says that in Australia, not only do many hospitals refuse to allow the collection of the blood by private companies (parents can still donate the blood for free to a public bank), but a report indicates that although Australian parents have spent millions in storage costs, none has been used yet.

Maybe it’s one less thing to feel guilty about? At least until the next time? Good luck!