Understanding the Process of Cord Blood Collection 

Umbilical cord blood is human blood from the placenta and umbilical cord that is rich in stem cells. Cord blood is collected after the umbilical cord has been detached from the newborn, and sometimes used as a source of stem cells for transplantation.

Cord blood can be stored by both public and private cord blood banks. Umbilical cord blood is currently used for marrow replacement in a variety of disorders. Two distinct methods of collection exist for banked umbilical cord blood.

The first method is to collect the blood after the placenta has been delivered. Because blood in the placenta and umbilical cord clots rapidly, ex utero cord blood collection is performed as soon as possible after delivery of the placenta, typically within 10 minutes. The second method is to collect cord blood during the third stage of labor after the baby, but before the placenta is delivered. This method has the possible advantage of the placenta being compressed by the uterus, allowing more blood to be collected. However, in utero cord blood collection takes place in an environment that is inherently subject to a greater risk of contaminating the cord blood during collection.

The training and reporting relationship for the two forms also vary: the after placental delivery method uses collectors trained and employed by the cord blood bank; the utero collections are performed by the delivery room staff, usually the obstetrician or midwife who is responsible for the delivery of the baby and the placenta.

Cord blood collection is performed by trained and responsible healthcare providers. These providers take special courses of educational and practical resources in order to provide effective collection. The most effective and safe methods are used when dealing with the syringes or other containers in order to avoid contamination. Collection has been available for any family since 1995 and is very safe.

By: Ray Lam

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Learn more about cord blood banks and get a free report on "Stem Cell Treatment - Uncovered" by visiting cordbloodadvice.info, a popular website that provides free cord blood stem cells advice.

Cord Blood Banking is Life Getting Better

For years, doctors have discarded the umbilical cord and the placenta after delivery without realizing the immense potential these organs have! Things are changing now, people today are more aware of the latest developments in science and technology and more and more people are taking cord blood banking seriously.

Regardless of what some people say, extracting cord blood from the umbilical cord for your baby and storing it in a cord blood bank is not harmful for you and your baby. The cord blood is drained after your baby is delivered and the umbilical cord is disconnected from your baby. But, why umbilical cord blood? The reason is though bone marrow can supply stem cells, the quality and quantity is a lot better in the umbilical cord. Besides, if a person has his own stem cells, he does not have to depend on others for donation. He is his own donor in cases of emergency. It is not necessary that his siblings with the similar genetic set up will be near him all the time. The cord blood you had preserved for him will be his savior. Speaking of siblings, have you ever thought that the cord blood that you have saved and stored in a cord blood bank could actually be of great use to the older siblings your baby may already have.

In case you are worrying about the expenses of saving your baby’s cord blood, a suggestion is that you can look at it as insurance for your family. And finally after a few years, if you see that your child is growing up with no health concern, you can choose to sell the cord blood to a needy family. Not interested in selling your baby’s cord blood? Ok, you can donate it too. Public cord blood donation banks take cord blood for donations. Your baby’s cord blood will bring smiles to many faces!

Ok, you have decided in favor of cord blood banking. But which are the diseases which can be treated. Stem cells are being used to treat numerous diseases. The specialty of stem cells is that it can adjust anywhere. Here are some diseases which can be cured by cord blood stem cells.

Acute Leukemia
Chronic Leukemia
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Stem Cell Disorders
Myeloproliferative Disorders
Lymphoproliferative Disorders
Phagocyte Disorders
Liposomal Storage Diseases
Histiocytic Disorders
Inherited Erythrocyte Abnormalities
Congenital (Inherited) Immune System Disorders
Other Inherited Disorders
Inherited Platelet Abnormalities,
Plasma Cell Disorders
Autoimmune Diseases
Brain Tumors
Ewing Sarcoma
Neuroblastoma
Ovarian Cancer
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Testicular Cancer.

Cord blood banking is a relatively new concept. Research is being made on how to utilize it effectively for the benefit of mankind. If you are not interested in preserving your umbilical cord blood for your family in a private cord blood bank, you can donate it for research. Cord blood banking is picking up with every passing day. Would you like to be a part of the revolution?

By: Apurvashree

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Cord blood banking is a relatively new concept but a very useful one.

The Use Of Stem Cells, Controversy and Debate

Guest article writer here today.  There is considerable controversy that revolves around stem cells although I don’t believe that there are many people against stem cells, their collection at the birth of a child once they understand what they are all about. However the stem cells debate will go on.

A cord blood bank is a facility which stores umbilical cord blood for future use. Private and public cord blood banks have mainly developed since the middle of the nineties as an answer to the use of cord blood to cure diseases of the blood and immune systems.

Cord blood is defined as the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby is born. It can be very useful as it contains hematopoietic stem cells, progenitor cells that can form red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Cord blood cells are mainly used to treat blood and immune system related genetic diseases, cancers and blood disorders like diabetes or leukemia.

Stem cells are actually cells that can turn into other types of cells like skin, liver or nerve. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are one of the most primitive types of cells actually found in the human body. They are created during the earliest phases of development and have the potential to become specialised cells such as red or white blood cells. It is these properties and the fact that the umbilical cord is a rich source of stem cells that has encouraged private cord blood bank to offer frozen storage of these cells from umbilical cord blood.

Most private cord blood banks provide an opportunity for donors to store their children’s cord blood somewhere safe. This is done in the hope that if their child becomes ill with a stem cell treatable disease, there would be a perfectly matched piece available to them that would simply save their lives. For this service, they tend to charge an up-front collection fee and then typically charge a yearly rate for on-going storage of the cord blood unit in their facility. The collection of umbilical cord blood is a safe process that is very easy and absolutely painless for the mother or the new born baby.

In spite of the cost of storage and slim chances of ever needing stem cells from cord blood, private cord blood banks guarantee a person the chance to have perfectly matched stem cells stored for future use which is something not to neglect. We also do not know what the cord blood could be used for in the future.

Nowadays, thousands of stem cell transplants using the person’s own cells are performed every year for leukemia, lymphoma, many solid tumors and myeloma. The latest research show that even with early-onset disease, the child’s stem cells are recommended for use in transplantation.

By: Wayne Channon

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Wayne Channon, Director of Cells4Life Ltd, a stem cells bank and cord blood bank . They specialise in umbilical cord blood collection .