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Stem cells are the "master cells" or building blocks of the bone marrow that continuously replicate and differentiate into the cells of the blood and immune systems: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. In adults, stem cells can only be found in bone marrow, and can only be collected by a bone marrow biopsy, which is a painful procedure.
Umbilical cord blood stem cells are created during your baby's development during pregnancy. These stem cells are readily found in the fetal circulation (and umbilical cord) at the time of birth. Therefore, at the time of your child’s birth, parents have a once in a lifetime opportunity to harvest, process and store these cells.
Aside from being the precursor cells for the blood and immune system, there is increasing evidence that stem cells collected at birth can be directed to different cell lines such as neural tissue, liver cells or cardiac muscle. Recent evidence has shown that umbilical cord blood stem cells can produce all of the cell types found in the body
Cord blood stem cells are a viable and useful alternative to bone marrow stem cells in reconstituting diseased or depleted bone marrow resulting from conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and immune system disorders. They can also be used for repair of bone marrow after extensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy in diseases such as cancer.
• Cord blood collection is a safe, quick and non-invasive procedure.
• Cord blood stem cells have a superior proliferative capacity.
• Cord blood stem cells have a greater immunological naivete, allowing possible transplants to siblings or other family members if needed.
• Use of Cord blood stem cells results in significantly less graft versus host disease.
• Cord blood is readily available at the birth of every baby.
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