Cord Blood Registry Basics

Potentially life saving stem cells collected after the birth of a child from the umbilical cord or the placenta can be stored for indefinite periods of time. This material is usually processed and held in a cord blood registry for either the private use of the donor and family or in many cases, for general donation and use by the public at large.

When it comes to understanding the process and the companies behind the procedures, a little education and knowledge will go a long way towards preparing parents to be in the best ways possible.



What Is Cord Blood?
After the baby is born, there remains a small amount of blood in the umbilical cord. After a successful live birth and the cord is clamped and wiped with antiseptic, a syringe can be inserted into one of veins in the cord and the blood extracted. There is also an appreciable amount of stem cell blood in the placenta, or more commonly, the afterbirth.

The collected materials are then either transported locally or shipped to the cord blood bank for processing and storage. Viable, nucleated stem cells are extracted from the collection, slowly cooled to -90 degrees Celsius and then placed into long-term storage in liquid nitrogen cooled tanks at temperatures as lows as -196 degrees. The stem cells have been shown to be viable for indefinite periods of time when these procedures are adhered to successfully.

How Do Cord Blood Banks Work?
At least two weeks, preferably six, prior to giving birth, the parents should connect with the cord blood registry to set up their account, receive education and collection kits, and make financial arrangements.
The parents have two choices with regards to where their baby's cord blood will go. The first is into a private blood bank where it will be processed and made available to either the original donor or perhaps an immediate family member, should the need arise and a suitable match can be made.

The second choice is for the parent who would like to donate to for the greater public good. Some cord blood banks are in the business of collecting and storing stem cells which are later made available for matching to anyone who might have need for a transplant but have no cord blood stored of their own.
The public donation option is also beneficial to the ongoing research efforts many of these blood banks perform. There is no cost associated with donating for public use, and as much as 70% of patients do not have a family member who might be eligible to donate marrow or other needed materials.

Other Important Questions To Ask

• Do the parents need to contact the delivery room staff or will the cord blood bank do that?
• Will the collection bag/kit be sterile in case it is needed in event of a C-section?
• Are the materials to collect from the placenta a part of the kit, or do they need to be requested separately?
• Is shipping the sample to the facility included in the cost structure, or something additional?
• Will the sample be picked up at the medical facility or do arrangements need to be made to get it to the transport service?
• Will after-hours or weekend shipments receive the same level of attention as samples received during normal working hours?
• What sort of disaster plans does the cord blood registry have in place? Are they prepared for loss of power for extended periods of time?

These are but a few of the areas one will want to learn about before choosing a cord blood registry and where their child's cord blood gets stored. Take the time to get informed and be ready when the magical moment of birth brings a newborn child into your life.