Frequently Asked Questions - Cord Blood

Are a lot of questions lingering in your mind about Cord Blood Banking? Read the answers to some key FAQs...

1) What is Cord Blood?
Cord blood is the blood that is left in the umbilical cord of the baby after the cord is cut off. Medical science has found out that cord blood, is a rich source of stem cells that is very useful for treating various types of diseases and ailments – just as the way Bone Marrow is useful. A few years ago, cord blood was simply discarded as medical waste after a birth.

However in the past few years doctors have recognized that the stem cells have unique qualities which can be used in treatment of certain cancers. The most common medical use is for transplantation in many situations where bone marrow is considered. In the future, it is possible that scientists will discover more diseases that can be cured with cord blood.

2) What are stem cells and how are they used?
Stem cells are the body's "master" cells because they create all other tissues, organs, and systems in the body. The stem cells found in cord blood are the building blocks of your blood and immune system and most readily replicate into:
Red Blood Cells - which carry oxygen to all the cells in the body,

White Blood Cells - which fight infection, and
Platelets - which aid in clotting in the event of injury.
There are three sources where stem cells are commonly found, they are:-
Bone Marrow,
Peripheral Blood (the blood that circulates through your body), and
Umbilical Cord Blood.

The ability of cord blood stem cells to differentiate, or change into other types of cells in the body is a new discovery that holds significant promise for improving the treatment of some of the most common diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's. At the same time the chemotherapy and radiation destroys the cancer cells in a patient, they also destroy stem cells. Therefore, an infusion of stem cells or a stem cell transplant is performed after the chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. The stem cells then migrate to the patient's bone marrow where they multiply and regenerate all of the cells to create a new blood and immune system for the patient.

3) Are cord blood stem cells different than other types of stem cells?
Yes - Umbilical cord blood stem cells are the "youngest" stem cells that are safely available. By freezing these cells, it prevents aging and damage that may occur to the cells later in life. Another source of stem cells, embryonic stem cells, has been at the heart of heated debate. Currently, embryonic stem cells are not being used to treat humans. A third category of stem cells is adult stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow. Adult stem cells serve very specialized roles in children and adults and are not as proliferative as those found in cord blood.

4) Why should I bank my baby’s Cord Blood?
It might save your child’s or other family member's life at some point in the future • There will only be one chance to bank your newborn’s cord blood i.e.immediately after your baby’s birth. • The procedure of cord blood collection is easy, painless, and risk free for both the baby and the mother. • A large no. of people who need bone marrow transplants can not find a match. Finding a proper match is especially problematic for ethnic minorities. By banking your baby's cord blood - stem cells, the odds of having a proper match for the baby or another family member improve. • It can prove to be beneficial if a family member has a disease that can be treated with a stem cell transplant, like thalassemia, a plastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, leukemia and some genetic immunodeficiencies. • Future medical advances may allow the use of stem cells to cure more conditions and be used in more transplant cases than being used currently.

5) Why should I not bank my baby’s Cord Blood?
Expensive: The price can range from a one-time $1000-$2000 at birth, plus courier charges ($100-$200) to deliver the blood, plus $100-$150 per year for storage and preservation of the cord blood stem cells. All these costs combined will add up to $3000 or more by the time your baby becomes 21 years old. • The odds of requirement of the stored cord blood for the child himself / herself may be very low – ranging from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 200,000. • If clamping of the cord is done too early after birth, the infant may be deprived of a placental blood transfusion, resulting in lower blood volume and increased risk for anemia later in life. • It may result in additional emotional stress for the parents.

6) What is the cost of donating cord blood?
There is no cost for donating cord blood in Public Cord Blood Banks – for public use. Public cord blood banks take care of the entire process and cover the cost of processing and storing your baby's cord blood. However, parents also have the option of storing cord blood with private cord blood banks – for exclusive use within their own family for a fee (as mentioned above - . All costs combined will add up to $3000 or more by the time your baby becomes 21 years old). Several banks in the United States and other countries such as Canada, UK, Australia, India, Malaysia, Indonesia etc. will collect and store cord blood reserved for private use.

7) Are there any risks to donating cord blood?
Donating cord blood is a safe procedure. Donating poses no health risks to you or your baby. Donating does not affect your baby or your birth experience because the cord blood is collected after your baby is born. The entire process is quite safe, easy, risk free and virtually pain-free.

8) Should I store or donate the cord blood?
Donating your child's cord blood or storing it for private use is a personal decision that only you can make. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Private Blood Banking may a suitable option if you have a family history of diseases like Leukemia but it may be a costly option. On the other hand, public cord blood banking is usually a cost free option. When you donate your baby’s cord blood, his or her name is added to a national registry. He or she is then guaranteed to receive cord blood if needed, but usually from another donor. Not all hospitals collect cord blood for public use, but if yours does, the chances that it will help save lives are much greater than when it’s stored in a private bank.

9) What will happen to my child's cord blood if I bank it?
After the baby's birth, the umbilical cord is clamped. This breaks the link between the baby and the placenta. The small amount of blood remaining in the placenta and umbilical cord which is usually three to five fluid ounces is drained and collected in a collection kit provided by the cord blood bank. Then it is sent to then cord blood bank (usually through courier) where the unit is processed and samples are sent for tests. To be stored, the cord blood unit must meet these standards:

• The unit must be large enough.
• Tests of the cord blood unit and the mother's blood sample must show no signs of infection or other possible problems.
• If the unit meets these standards, it is frozen and stored in a liquid nitrogen freezer.

10) Where can I donate cord blood?
If you are interested, or someone you know is interested, in donating cord blood, look for a Cord Blood Bank or collecting hospital within or close to your community. There are only a small number of cord blood banks in the United States, so donation to a local bank is not possible in many areas. In most other countries of the world, Public cord blood banks dont exist. Only private cord blood banks are available in such countries.

11) How long can cord blood be stored before it expires?
Studies have shown good cord blood cell can be recovered more than ten years after storage. Studies are ongoing to determine the storage life of cord blood units.

12) When should I contact a cord blood bank if I am interested?
It is recommended that the cord blood bank should be contacted around 6-8 weeks prior to expected date of delivery.

13) Why is cord blood becoming more popular than bone marrow?
Cord Blood is easier to match – thus it ensures higher survival chances Bone marrow on the other hand, is difficult to match. While Cord blood immune cells are less mature than in bone marrow and can be successfully used even when there is only a half-match. Thus there is higher opportunity for transplants between family members when cord blood is stored. Studies have shown that survival chances for related transplants are more than twice than the survival chances of transplants from unrelated donors. Cord blood is more immediately available as compared to Bone Marrow Cord Blood banking helps quick availability of stem cells if needed for treatment.