About Cord Blood Banking & Stem Cells

Ask any expecting mother and she will tell you that she frequently receives information about "cord blood banking," a process that will allow her to preserve her baby's umbilical cord stem cells. In order to decide for or against cord blood banking, expecting parents need to know the benefits, risks and costs associated with preserving umbilical cord blood.

History

Cord blood banking dates back to 1974, when the discovery of stem cells in umbilical cord blood was first reported. In 1988, the first successful transplant of cord blood was used to grow new blood cells in a six-year-old boy with a blood disorder. The Cord Blood Registry was founded in Arizona in 1992. In 1998 researchers discovered that cord blood could be preserved for more than 15 years. In 2005 the U.S. Congress passed national cord blood legislation for the first time. These laws advocated the education of pregnant women about the benefits of cord blood banking. Currently, research is ongoing into more potential uses for the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood, including treatment for diabetes and adult blood disorders.

Function

Cord blood contains versatile stem cells that can grow into blood-producing cells. These can be used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, red cell abnormalities and other blood disorders. If a pregnant mother is interested in cord blood banking, the blood is harvested immediately after the delivery of the baby and the placenta. The umbilical cord is clamped and the blood is collected using a syringe or gravity bag. This causes no discomfort for mother or baby. The blood is then stored for transport to the banking facility, where it is frozen for later use.

Benefits

The stem cells in banked umbilical cord blood have unique advantages over other sources for stem cells, such as bone marrow, because they are so immature. Patients who receive cord blood stem cells are at a much lower risk of developing graft versus host disease than those who receive bone marrow transplants. This means it is much easier to find a match for the patient needing a transplant, even when using public cord blood banks. Matches between family members are even more likely, which makes private cord blood banking popular with those who can afford it.

Types

There are two ways to bank cord blood. Private cord blood banking is a service that a baby's parents pay for that allows them to bank the baby's umbilical cord blood for their family to use. They pay a yearly fee for the storage of the cord blood, and if anyone in their family is in need of stem cell transplants, the blood is available. Public cord blood banking is done on a donation basis. The blood goes to a public blood bank where it is stored until someone who needs cord blood and is a match for the donor blood is found.

Considerations

Medically speaking there is no reason not to bank a baby's cord blood. It poses no risk to mother or baby and can provide important medical help in the future. However, in order to participate in cord blood banking, a mother must deliver in a hospital that will collect and transfer the blood. Those who are interested in private cord blood banking need to be prepared to pay for the service. Most banks charge a collection fee, which is typically between $1,000 and $1,500, and a yearly storage fee, which is typically around $100 a year.

Expert Insight

So is cord blood banking worth the expense? It is if someone in your family ends up needing it. Families with a medical history of diseases that can be treated with a stem cell transplant should give it serious consideration. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not officially recommend that parents store cord blood for personal use in the future, as the chance of needing it to low to justify the expense. Perhaps a better option would be to participate as a donor, so more cord blood becomes available to the general public.

Resources

• Cord Blood Banking
• Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Banks
• How to Donate Cord Blood