How to Transplant Cord Blood

In recent years, much experimentation has been done involving umbilical cord blood. Cord blood is rich in stem cells that can be used in place of bone marrow or regular blood transplants. The following is a simple step-by-step instruction guide to transplanting cord blood.

Instructions

1. Collect cord blood. Umbilical cord blood is collected during the birthing process--it is the remaining blood inside the placenta after the umbilical cord is separated. The baby has been using the cord blood for survival, but after birth it is no longer needed and is usually discarded. Since medical research has proven the value of cord blood, parents can now choose to have their baby's cord blood saved and stored for future use, or, if the hospital has a cord blood program, it can be donated to a person in need of a transplant.

2. Transport cord blood. Transporters collect the cord blood in a medically approved container. It is transported at room temperature and can stay that way for 72 hours. Once it is transported, it is tested for utility and compatibility, then cryogenically frozen for storage.

3. Test the cord blood. Cord blood is tested for things like blood type, infection, gas level and blood count. These tests determine whether or not it is usable at all. All cord blood is not compatible with all transplant patients. For one thing, it comes in limited supply. For this reason, cord blood is more often used in transplants for children or smaller-sized adults. Tests must also be done once a potential receiver is chosen to determine compatibility of tissue type. All of the blood and patient information is stored in a national registry for donor matching purposes.

4. Prepare for a transplant. Patients who are suffering from leukemia, and in some cases breast cancer, are candidates for cord blood transplant. Family members have the highest success rate for transplant surgery; therefore, if a family member's cord blood had been previously stored, it can be tracked and retrieved. If not, the national registry is used to find matching cord blood. Patients prepare for the transplant by undergoing chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy. This process is done to destroy the unhealthy cells to be replaced with the new stem cells.This therapy is also called "conditioning" and can last from 7 to 10 days.

5. Go through the procedure. A patient undergoing transplant surgery will receive general anesthesia. The cord blood is given through a process called infusion. A tube is inserted into a central venous line, normally in the chest, and administered to the patient. This can take about and hour or more, depending on the amount of the transfusion. The new stem cells enter a patient's bones, taking the place of the diseased marrow. The first few weeks after the transplant, the patient is very prone to infection and must be monitored carefully. During this time, it is hoped that the new cells will begin to grow on their own. This process is called "engraftment."

Tips & Warnings

• If parents wish to store their baby's cord blood for future use, they can select one of many storage facilities during pregnancy. There is a nominal fee for this storage.

• Not all patients will have a donor match. Elderly patients and patients with a compromised immune system may not receive this therapy because it negatively effects the immune system.