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A child’s umbilical cord blood is a rich and viable source of hematopoietic stem cells or HSCs. These cord blood stem cells are often used for therapeutic transplants to help improve the lives of children living with life threatening blood conditions, diseases, or disorders.
Why Is Cord Blood Banking Important?
In order for children to receive cord blood stem cell transplants, their doctors must be able to access a banked source of umbilical cord blood. Expecting mothers are encouraged to learn about cord blood banking during their first trimester, which will help them decide whether to bank their baby’s cord blood on the date of the birth.
Cord blood banking can be particularly beneficial for patients that:
• Are from mixed backgrounds, which are very common in countries like Canada
• Require a cord blood stem cell transplant without waiting for a viable donor
• Have been diagnosed with a life threatening blood disease or disorder
What Conditions Can Cord Blood Therapy Improve?
The first cord blood stem cell transplant was performed on a patient living with fanconi anemia. Over the years, cord blood became a viable source of therapy for conditions like leukaemia, lymphoma, and other blood conditions.
Clinical trials continue to test if cord blood can be used to help patients with other disorders. Tests are being conducted at some of the world’s most prestigious medical schools to determine if cord blood can help patients with cerebral palsy, Type 1 Diabetes, spinal cord injury, heart disease, and many others.
Is Cord Blood Banking Safe For The Baby?
Cord blood banking is a simple procedure that can be completed in only 5 minutes. The collection process occurs after the baby has been born and the umbilical cord has been clamped, which assures that there are no medical risks to either the mother or the baby.
Where Can Cord Blood Be Banked?
If families choose to bank their baby’s cord blood with a trusted family banking institution, the collection process can occur at most hospitals across Canada. A collection specialist will be at the hospital on the date of the birth, and will transport the banked sample to a cord blood banking facility for storage.
