Umbilical Cord Blood Banks

In the old days of closed scientific laboratories and closely guarded research secrets, umbilical cord blood and stem cells were not regarded with much interest, save as an ordinary fact that the process of creation just happened to include in life. Sources of stem cells, such as blood, fats, bone, or umbilical cords were simply named as sources, not as natural resources. Today, with more scientific research and a good deal of scientific transparency, stem cells from umbilical cords have shown promise in possibly helping in making the human body better, say by replacing or regenerating lost part of organs, and by giving many sickly persons a new lease on life.

As a result, scientists are harvesting umbilical cord blood as a source of both adult and embryonic stem cells without bypassing ethical limitations. In years gone by, the cord was simply destroyed in the garbage. Now in a few words, stem cells are simply the beginning of all potential: a stem cell can be induced to form organs of a specific cell type, such as liver or kidneys, with the help of chemical and physical cues. This can be useful in organ transplants: a person's stem cells can be used to create a new organ that that person's body will not reject. And, as a result, the saving and storage of umbilical cord blood has been created to cater to stem cell donations.

The modern system works by recruiting pregnant mothers to place their child's umbilical cord into the storage once the child is born. The human placenta and cord contain many stem cells: these cells can be harvested by experts, stored in extremely cold conditions, and then used later when needed. There are hospitals that participate in collection programs; such hospitals work with the network of banks in the United States, as well as with the network of international registries. There are also private institutions that pregnant mothers can go to for this specialized kind of storage and /or donation.

If you are an expecting mother, you can look for a bank or designated donation hospital in your community. At present, there are only a few cord blood banks in the U.S., especially since they need expertise and finances to function. A mother can pay to have her specimen stored. However there is no cost if you give it as a donation. The recipient medical facility covers the financial cost of processing storing the material. Most people donate, rather than pay storage fees for years and years. But some establishments even have the option of collecting and storing a specific child's cord blood exclusively for the family's use, but this option will entail payment of a processing and storage fee.

Donating to a medical bank is safe: there are no risks posed by such a procedure to you or your child, as the material is taken after your child is born. In the past this material was simply thrown away. Now it is realized to be of helpful value and could save someone's life. If you have a complicated birth, your doctor is obligated not to collect the material for donation. You also have the choice of donating to a public or private bank. If you choose to donate it to a public bank, the umbilical cord blood will be made available to any patient who will require it for a transplant, or to any research facility that might need it for scientific investigation.

Not all material is fit for donation. When the umbilical cord and placenta are removed from the child after birth, the blood from them is drained, and is then taken to a storage facility. There must be a good amount of material drained in order for it to be stored. The health and lifestyle history of the family, and, most importantly, the mother who has just given birth, must meet a certain set of guidelines. There should be no signs of possible infections. Once the material is stored and analyzed in a public bank, facts about it will be placed on a registry that is made available to medical facilities all around the world.

Cord blood can survive up to a decade in storage, although research is still ongoing on how units can be better stored as a reserve for when patients are much older. There is currently a need for expecting mothers of African American, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and American Indian lineage to donate. This is because certain traits may be race-specific, and many people requiring cord blood for transplants might find it difficult to get a tissue match in the cord blood banks unless there is a good mix of cultural diversity in the donations.

If you can donate your child's umbilical cord blood, then go ahead and do so, and you might be helping to save a life. Much like when you may have donated blood to a hospital blood drive, it is a kind thing to do for another person you will never even meet. Your personal information will not be divulged, and will be kept in confidential records at the bank. Your donation, moreover, will help researchers do more work as they investigate the benefits of stem cells; and more transplant patients, and other people who might need the important medical material, can have a new lease on life, thanks to you.

Monica Nelson often writes about pregnancy related topics, such as public cord blood donations, and the Chinese pregnancy calendar and also about how to get a degree in as little as 13 months through online nursing schools. These health articles are provided as a helpful news service and are not to be considered medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about health issues such as pregnancy.

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