What is Cord Blood Banking?

The basic definition of cord blood banking is the process of collecting and storing the stem cells that are located in a newborn baby's umbilical cord. Cord blood banking is increasing in popularity due to the powerful benefits of cord blood stem cells to treat life-threatening diseases. Cord blood stem cells are regarded as the building blocks of the blood and of the immune system.

Benefits

Scientists and medical professionals have found that cord blood stem cells have the power to cure cell diseases in red and white blood, treat certain cancers such as leukemia and repair delicate organ tissue. Family members with chronic diseases or sensitive medical conditions can often benefit from the donated cord blood. The procedure for collecting and storing cord blood is simple and has no affect on the process of childbirth or delivery. No blood sample is needed from the baby.

Types

There are several types of cord blood banks. Public cord blood banks keep an inventory of samples for patients in urgent need. They collect and store the cord blood for free. Private family cord blood banks collect and store cord blood for family use, and charge a fee for this service. Donors can also opt for "directed donation," reserving cord blood for an immediate need by a family member. This option may incur a small fee. There are also cord blood banks that reserve samples for research studies, typically a free service.

Time Frame

While the process of cord blood collection is done immediately after childbirth, most hospitals and cord blood banks ask that expectant mothers plan for donation in advance, recommending they be notified around the 34th week of pregnancy. This advance notice gives the public or private cord blood bank time to screen the mother for possible health complications and to become more informed about her health history.

Considerations

There are several requirements for someone who wishes to donate cord blood. Depending upon the cord blood bank, the donor must be a minimum of 16 or 18 years old. A health history that includes AIDS, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C makes someone ineligible to donate. Certain types of cancer and diabetes also affect eligibility. A recent bout of malaria or of a sexually transmitted disease prohibits donation. People who have received organ or tissue transplants are not eligible to donate.

Misconceptions

Heated political and religious debate about stem cell research has scared off some potential donors. The fact is, cord blood banking is a noncontroversial option for mothers. The newborn baby is not affected in any way, and the stem cells found in cord blood are as valuable as those found in bone marrow. Research has shown that stem cells have the power to stimulate growth in diseased organs, and studies are underway to examine how stem cells can battle diabetes, cerebral palsy and other crippling diseases.