The ten most important questions and answers about umbilical cord blood.
For some time now, specialized blood banks have been offering expectant parents the opportunity to have stem cells stored from umbilical cord blood. There is no doubt that it makes sense to collect and store the umbilical cord blood after delivery, as it can be invaluable for the baby later in life. Before making the final decision, however, it is advisable to clarify some important questions about the umbilical cord blood and its actual benefits. It is often only then that expectant parents realize the purpose for which the blood is being collected and the far-reaching effects it can have on their own lives.
How is umbilical cord blood collected?
Before blood is drawn from the umbilical cord, the baby is born completely at rest. It does not matter whether it is a cesarean section or a natural birth, because in all cases the cord blood is usable. According to Kidsgo, it is even possible to have the blood collected after a water birth. The attending physician needs a special kit consisting of some utensils to collect the blood. Only after the umbilical cord has been disconnected, the blood is passed through a pointed needle into a sterile bag. Immediately after this, it is transported to a specialized blood bank.
Is the collection procedure dangerous?
The collection is completely painless and there are no health risks.
Are there any specific requirements for storage?
After the cord blood is transported to the blood bank, it is stored in a special way. There are some important points to be observed here to ensure that the shelf life and also the integrity of the stem cells are maintained:
- Before storage, the cord blood is tested and examined under strict hygienic conditions.
- The isolated stem cells are stored at a temperature of about -195 degrees Celsius.
- All relevant data around the properties of the blood and stem cells are documented in writing.
How long does umbilical cord blood last?
Today it is clear that properly stored stem cells can keep for many decades and therefore be useful to their owners even in adulthood. Thus, it is possible to choose from different time models for private storage.
What diseases can stem cells from umbilical cord blood help against?
The healing potential of umbilical cord blood has not been fully explored even after many years of research. However, the fact is that there is a large variety of diseases for which the administration of cord blood, or stem cells, can provide a cure.
| Disease |
State of research |
| Leukemia | Especially for children with leukemia, the chances of cure with umbilical cord blood are very high. In adults, the amount of cells is not always sufficient, which is why more than one donor is needed. |
| Autism | There are now some ongoing studies on the treatment of autism with umbilical cord blood. However, concrete results on this topic are not yet available. |
| Diabetes |
A study has succeeded in helping patients with type 1 diabetes significantly improve their condition by treating them with umbilical cord blood. |
| Cerebral Palsy | Recent studies have succeeded in mitigating the effects of this condition with the administration of umbilical cord blood. |
Based on the four diseases mentioned, it is clear that umbilical cord blood is quite important in medicine. After all, research in this area in particular is continuing to develop, which is why other diseases will have a chance of being treated with umbilical cord blood in the future. Strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and heart attacks, among others, are also on the list of potentially curable diseases.
Is cord blood only useful to its former donor?
It is not only one’s own child who can benefit from the stem cells from his or her umbilical cord blood. Thus, it is quite possible that sick family members can also be cured by the stem cells. Furthermore, cord blood that is not stored privately but donated publicly is useful for any suitable recipient.For this reason, stem cell data are documented and recorded in great detail and made available internationally.
Is there always a charge for the collection?
Only the private storage of the umbilical cord blood lets costs arise. To what amount these amount, depends on the duration of the storage and of course also on the choice of the provider. However, there are two cases in which parents do not have to pay anything for the storage of the umbilical cord blood:
Public donation benefits the general public, which is why it is completely free for parents. For this purpose, the umbilical cord blood is collected in the clinic and then sent to a public blood bank. The genetic data of all potential recipients is constantly compared and as soon as a suitable person is found, the cord blood can be used for him or her. Directed donation is a special case in the field of cord blood collection, because the recipient of the blood is already known at the time of birth. This can be, for example, a sibling who can be cured of a serious illness through the administration of the umbilical cord blood. Since the collection in this case is specifically for a curative purpose, health insurance companies cover all costs incurred.
What are the differences between public donation and private storage?
The most important difference is not the elimination of costs for a public donation compared to private storage. The fact that one’s own child has no right to his or her own cord blood down the road is all the more crucial. If the child needs its own stem cells in the future, they may already have been used for another donor. In principle, however, this is not always dramatic, because the donation of one’s own stem cells is not useful for all diseases. For example, some diseases such as leukemia can only be cured with donated cord blood from another person, since one’s own stem cells most likely contain the disposition for leukemia from the beginning.
Is the cord blood tested before it is stored?
Usually, a thorough examination of the umbilical cord blood is performed. During this process, the blood is also tested for pathogens. The number of stem cells is also determined, and precise documentation of genetic key points is made, which can be used to ensure the suitability of a subsequent recipient.
Can any collected cord blood be used for storage?
It is not always possible to isolate sufficient stem cells from the cord blood sent in. In such a case, or even if the blood is infected with dangerous pathogens, storage will not occur.
