Cord blood banking is done by collecting and storing the baby's umbilical cord blood after delivery. It contains valuable stem cells that can be life-saving. It can be used by anyone after HLA cross-matching. The diseases that can be treated with cord blood banking are various malignancies like leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, retinoblastoma, and Hodgkin's disease.
It also treats blood disorders like sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, Fanconi anemia, aplastic anemia, osteopetrosis, metabolic disorders, and immunodeficiencies like DiGeorge syndrome.
Cord blood can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Cancer: Cord blood stem cells can be used to replace damaged bone marrow in patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- Blood Disorders: Cord blood can be used to treat blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and leukemia.
- Genetic Disorders: Cord blood can be used to treat genetic disorders such as Hurler syndrome and Krabbe disease.
- Immune System Disorders: Cord blood can be used to treat immune system disorders such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).
How cord blood is collected
Cord blood collection is quick and painless. After the baby is delivered, your healthcare provider will close off the umbilical cord using a clamp. Then, using a needle, the healthcare provider will draw out the blood into a sterile bag. This will be sealed before the placenta is delivered. Sometimes the cord is simply tilted to let the blood drain into a bag. Between one-half and 1 cup of stem cell-rich cord blood can be collected. This must be done within 15 minutes of birth.
Who Can Benefit from Cord Blood Transplantation?
Cord blood transplantation can benefit a range of patients, including:
- Children: Cord blood can be used to treat a range of childhood diseases and disorders.
- Adults: Cord blood can be used to treat adult patients who have not found a matching bone marrow donor.
- Patients from Ethnic Minority Groups: Cord blood can be used to treat patients from ethnic minority groups who have a lower chance of finding a matching bone marrow donor.
Options for storing cord blood
After collection, the blood is sent to the facility of your choice, where it will be processed and then frozen in storage. No one is certain how long cord blood lasts. Some experts believe it can be stored for 21 years or more.
You have two options for storing cord blood: public storage or private storage. These storage spaces are referred to as "banks." The facility you choose should be accredited through the American Association of Blood Banks.
Storing cord blood in a public bank is free. But like a blood bank, the facility makes your stored cord blood available to other children who are biological matches.
Storing cord blood in a private bank means that the cord blood will be available to your family only. This type of storage requires both an initial fee and annual storage fees. The initial fee could be as high as $2,000, with annual storage fees of approximately $100. Make sure you understand all the fees involved in private storage. Also, find out what would happen if the bank were to go out of business.
Conclusion
Cord blood is a valuable resource that has the potential to save lives. It can be used to treat a range of diseases and disorders, and can benefit patients of all ages. By understanding the benefits and uses of cord blood, we can unlock its power and make it a valuable resource for generations to come.