Cord Blood BankingLearn What Is Umbilical Cord BloodWhat Is Umbilical Cord Blood?Blood which remains in the umbilical cord post child birth, is harvested as a rich source of stem cells. Blood collected from umbilical cord is used for the treatment of genetic and hematopoietic diseases. Stem cells are a special class of cells which are capable of differentiating into other cell types. Such cells have been successfully used in the treatment of damaged blood cells and boost immunity. Stem cells which are exclusive for the production of blood are known as hematopoietic stem cells. Treatment of diseases through cord blood A variety of serious conditions have been successfully treated. These include bone marrow failure, malignancies (blood cancer especially), haemoglobinopathies (disorders in blood such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia), metabolic disorders (specific conditions which interfere with the break down and excretion of waste within the body) and immunodeficiences (where the immune system is compromised). To understand how stem cells are efficient in treating diseases, normal function of the replenishing ability of the human body must be understood. In a healthy individual, the bone marrow is capable of producing stem cells. Bone marrow is soft, tissue like mass present in the hollow of bones. In the event of dysfunction, the bone marrow loses its ability to produce stem cells. Stem cells are also killed through exposure to radiation (as in the case of chemotherapy). For such people, availing new stem cells must be from an external source. Bone marrow transplant has long been accepted as a successful procedure for stem cell restoration. But, the procedure is successful only when there is a high match percentage between the donor and recipient. An easier and less stringent (in terms of surgical invasiveness and match demand) is stem cell transfer.Collection of cord bloodBlood which remains in the placenta post childbirth, in the past, was discarded. Although, the potential of umbilical cord blood was always known, there were no means of successfully harvesting the contained stem cells. With the advancement in scientific technologies, there are now simple procedures available to successfully harvest and store umbilical stem cells. Umbilical cord blood is collected soon after the child's birth. A common practice which is followed after child birth is for the midwife or doctor, to severe the umbilical cord. The cut is clamped and the excess tube falls off by itself after a few days. Using a collection kit, the blood from the cord is collected using a needle. Blood which is remaining in the cord is extracted and stored. The storage bag contains family information and is transported to a cord blood bank. When the need arises and on matching the patient's requirement, stem cells are recovered. High rate of recovery is achievable in cord blood banking because such blood doesn't contain red blood cells. Stem cells collected from the baby's umbilical cord can either be donated to a public cord bank or stored at a private facility. Private storage makes umbilical cord blood immediately available should a family member require it. bone marrow transplant recipients stem cell cord bloodcord blood banking cord blood bankcord blood definitionCord blood banking baby cord blood banking cord blood banking banking cord blood best cord blood banking cost blood banking cost cord blood banking cord blood banking cord blood banking