Umbilical cord blood storage for possible future use is a procedure of uncertain benefit. Currently, the placenta and the blood contained within it are routinely discarded after childbirth. Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after your baby has been delivered and the cord has been cut. However, there are now several organizations that provide a kit allowing the cord blood and blood tissue to be collected and stored for possible future use, including the treatment of blood diseases such as leukemia or replacement of bone marrow after treatment for advanced cancers. Like bone marrow, this blood is a rich source of stem cells that are used in many life saving medical treatments today, and are showing promise in the treatment of conditions such as brain injury, autism , strokes, Alzheimer’s, juvenile diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.
Additionally, you now have the opportunity to also save a segment of your baby’s umbilical cord, called cord tissue, which is rich in another type of valuable stem cell. The cells in cord tissue are different from those found in cord blood and may help repair the body in different ways. More than 80 clinical trails are studying the potential use of the type of cell and may soon lead to treatments for many serious health conditions and everyday injuries, including spinal cord injury, heart repair following a heart attack, bone repair, and cartilage regeneration.
We understand that this technology is in its infancy and that there are many uncertainties regarding its potential long-term benefits. We do not make any recommendation for or against having cord blood collected for this purpose. If you are interested, you may want to contact one of the commercial companies listed below for more specific information. We do not endorse any particular company. The costs vary for the initial collecting/processing fee. There is also a yearly storage charge. Contact cord blood company for cost of collection and storage.
If you desire to have cord blood and/or blood tissue collected at the time of your child’s delivery, we will be glad to perform this procedure. There is a charge from our office for cord blood collection. You are responsible for payment on this charge. We will not file an insurance claim for you. It is also your responsibility to provide the kit and see that it is mailed to the processing center in a satisfactory fashion. Be aware that making arrangements with the company of your choice can take up to two months and should not be left to the last minute. Also, please realize that there are no guarantees at all on the quantity or quality of the blood collected, as this varies from birth to birth. Samples can be contaminated with bacteria or maternal blood cells from the birth process, possibly causing unforeseen effects when used in the future. Please ask your physician if you have any further questions.
Stem cells from cord blood and blood tissue can be used to treat not only the donor but also other closely related family members like parents or siblings. It is estimated that the likelihood that the need for cord blood and blood tissue within a family is approximately 1/1,500 or less. Over 3,000 patients with at least 45 diseases have been treated using cord blood stem cells and blood tissue.