Cord blood stem cells, are one of a group of cells called hematopoietic stem cells that can be used to treat many diseases. Cord blood stem cells are not the same as embryonic stem cells, which there is quite a bit of controversy currently surrounding research using these types of cells. Cord blood stems cells are capable of evolving into different types of blood cells in the circulatory and immune systems. These cells, hematopoietic stem cells are collected from three sources: adult bone marrow, adult peripheral blood, and cord blood.

According to the Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood, www.parentsguidecordblood.com, stem cells are used to treat a variety of blood diseases, such as acute and chronic leukemia, which is a cancer of the white blood cells; myelodysplastic syndromes, which are anemic pre-leukemia conditions; lymphomas, cancer of the white blood cells that circulate in the blood and lymph systems (Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma); inherited red blood cell abnormalities like sickle cell disease; and other types of cancer and disorders of the blood and immune systems, such as anemias, plasma, white blood cell, and platelet abnormalities. 

Cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord of a newborn infant immediately after delivery. No harm is done to the mother or the infant in the process. This type of procedure is only done in areas that have participating hospitals and programs supported by public and private registries. Parents may choose to donate cord blood, or bank it for a fee for use for their own child should the need arise. These public and private cord blood storage banks are located across the country, but not in great abundance, as well as registries of potential stem cell donors, and adults and children in need of a stem cell transplant.

Up to 50% of those in need are not able to find a suitable donor match from bone marrow, however, cord blood stem cell donation does not require a perfect match because the incidence of incompatibility is low. Cord blood is not collected at every birth unless a registry is in operation locally, which is usually not the case, because the necessary funds are simply not available. It has been suggested that cord blood banks should be incorporated into completely private institutions like public blood banks. If cord blood was taken at every birth in this country, the amount of cord blood banked may be adequate to fulfill most of the needs which presently are not being met.

Collecting cord blood stem cells in an easy, non-invasive procedure that can benefit many. There are some disadvantages, as with any type of transplant. The cord blood stem cells are in a primitive state and do not yet have the immune properties developed, which can leave the recipient as a greater risk for infection for a time until immunity is present. There are many online sites available for expectant parents to seek out information regarding cord blood donation and public and private cord blood banks. It may be just the thing that saves the life of a child, and that child may be your’s.