| Cord BloodCord Blood is the blood that remains in the | | | | and red blood |
| umbilical cord and | | | | cells or plasma that will not be needed in |
| placenta following birth. | | | | transplantation. |
| Cord Blood is routinely discarded with the placenta | | | | Storage involves storing the cord blood unit in a vinyl |
| and umbilical | | | | or |
| cord. | | | | plastic bag in which it is frozen in liquid nitrogen.There |
| The blood in the cord is a rich source of stem cells. | | | | are two types of cord blood banks. |
| Stem cells are the building blocks of your blood and | | | | Firstly there are the family banks, which store the |
| immune | | | | umbilical |
| system. | | | | cord for one's own family use. |
| Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into other | | | | Secondly, there are the public donor banks, which |
| types of | | | | store the |
| cells in the body, and thus give rise to all the tissues, | | | | umbilical cord blood for unrelated or non-family use - |
| organs | | | | which is |
| and systems in the body. | | | | public use. |
| The stems cells in a child's cord blood are genetically | | | | Every parent has the option of saving their baby's |
| unique to | | | | cord blood for |
| the baby and its biological family.Due to stem cells | | | | their family use, while only a small number of people |
| ability to differentiate into other types of | | | | may be able |
| cell tissue in the body, treatments can be developed | | | | to donate their baby's cord blood stem cells.Cord |
| for diseases | | | | Blood Stem CellsThere are three sources of stem |
| such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Diabetes to | | | | cells: bone marrow, peripheral |
| name a few. | | | | blood (that is the blood that circulates through the |
| Stem cells found in the cord blood are a valuable | | | | body) and |
| biological | | | | umbilical cord blood. |
| resource that researchers can use to investigate the | | | | Cord blood stem cells, however, are different from |
| potential of | | | | other types of |
| future applications for cord blood stem cells.Cord | | | | stem cells. |
| Blood BankingCord Blood Banking is the process | | | | By freezing these cells, any aging or damage to |
| whereby umbilical cord blood | | | | these cells is |
| stem cells are saved for potential medical uses. | | | | prevented, that usually occurs later in life. |
| Cord blood banking includes the processes of | | | | Umbilical cord blood stem cells are also more |
| collection, | | | | proliferate than |
| processing and storing of the umbilical cord blood. | | | | adult stem cells, such as those found in bone |
| Collection involves drawing the cord blood from the | | | | marrow.The information contained in this article is for |
| umbilical | | | | educational purposes |
| cord, using either the syringe or bag collection | | | | only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat |
| method, after | | | | or cure any |
| the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut. | | | | disease. Consult a health care practitioner before |
| Processing involves the testing of the cord blood to | | | | beginning any |
| determine | | | | health care program. |
| whether it meets eligibility standards and removing | | | | |