Is Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Worth It?

Umbilical cord blood banking is the process of collecting and preserving a newborn's residual blood, which is a rich source of life-saving hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These newborn stem cells are currently FDA-approved to treat close to 100 life-threatening conditions, including various leukemias, lymphomas, and inherited metabolic disorders. The historical success of the first cord blood transplant in 1988 and ongoing advanced clinical trials for conditions like cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis establish cord blood as a critical component of regenerative medicine and a valuable biological resource for immediate family members.

Umbilical cord blood is residual blood collected from the umbilical cord and placenta immediately after birth, and it is a powerful source of life-saving hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These HSCs are specialized, undifferentiated cells that possess the unique capability to develop into any type of blood cell in the human body—specifically red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

The Mechanism of Action

The life-saving potential of cord blood is rooted in its ability to facilitate a cord blood transplant, which replaces damaged or diseased cells in a patient's bone marrow.

• Cell Replacement: Upon infusion, the preserved HSCs travel to the patient's bone marrow.
• Regeneration: They regenerate the entire blood and immune system, effectively replacing compromised blood-forming cells with healthy, functioning cells.
• Immune System Support: This regenerative process restores the body's natural defense mechanisms, allowing patients to overcome life-threatening blood disorders, cancers, and specific immune deficiencies.

Technical Definition: Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) are the foundational, self-renewing cells found in bone marrow and cord blood, responsible for the lifelong generation of all blood and immune system cells.

Today, these stem cells are FDA-approved to treat close to 100 other conditions, including leukemias, lymphomas, anemias, metabolic disorders, and more. Many of these conditions are life-threatening, especially without appropriate treatment. If a stem cell transplant is required, umbilical cord blood can save someone’s life. 

The future has also never looked brighter. These cells are in advanced clinical trials to establish treatments and therapies for a number of other potentially life-threatening conditions, including diabetes, cancers, and autoimmune conditions, as well as other conditions that can impact quality of life like rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral palsy, and some severe cases of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Cord blood banking (or stem cell preservation) is the simple, non-invasive process of collecting and cryogenically preserving the newborn's cord blood for potential future medical use by the child or a compatible family member.

Steps of the Collection Process

1. Preparation: The expectant parents enroll with a specialized cord blood bank and receive a collection kit.
2. Collection: Immediately after the baby is born and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, a trained healthcare professional collects the residual blood from the cord using a sterile needle and bag. This process takes less than five minutes and poses zero risk to the mother or baby.
3. Transportation: The collection kit is immediately transported to the private bank's laboratory under temperature-controlled conditions.
4. Processing: In the lab, the volume of hematopoietic stem cells is isolated, processed, and tested for viability.
5. Cryopreservation: The final stem cell unit is stored in specialized cryogenic storage tanks at temperatures below -190°C, ensuring the cells are viable for decades (cryogenic freezing).

If you’d like to learn more about banking your baby’s cord blood and its incredible stem cells, contact us or give us a call at 866-503-6005.

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