Print ArticleCord blood is the blood that is extracted from the umbilical cord and the placenta immediately after the delivery of the baby. Very few people even today know that the umbilical cord and the placenta that are thrown away as waste actually harbor life saving cells. Freedom from a huge number of diseases is provided by nature as soon as we are born! Stem cells are the architects of the human body, with the capability of creating new blood cells, brain cells, etc. The specialty of the stem cells lies in their ability to multiple several times and creates whichever cell the body needs.
This type of banking is increasing in popularity over the past few years. Two types of banks specialize in collection and preservation- public bank and the private bank. Public banking services are free. Here, you can preserve your child´s stem cells. However, one important point here is that here, you are assured of a unit of cord blood unit when required. It may not necessarily be your unit. It is highly likely that if your unit of blood is a perfect match for a little 5 year old residing on the other side of the country, he will be given preference, provided you are not in need of it in the near future. If you plan to preserve the blood, specifically for your family, you will be unable to do so in a public bank. Private banks are expensive. Nevertheless, here you can preserve the stem cells just for your family use.
More than 70 diseases can be treated with its help. Some of them are Aplastic Anemia (Severe), Beta Thalassemia Major, Sickle Cell Disease, Hemophagocytosis, Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, Krabbe Disease, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, DiGeorge Syndrome, Osteopetrosis, etc.
The Debate….Continues
Why do we need to preserve the cord blood? Bone marrow stem cells should be enough. Well, there are still debates on this issue. There is one point that everyone agrees with. That is, umbilical cord blood has more stem cells than the bone marrow does. On the other hand, unlike the cord blood, adult donor blood is not limited by quantity. However, stem cells are more flexible, compared to the bone marrow cells. Very rarely is it seen that a patient´s body has rejected the cord blood stem cells. Stem cells for the umbilical cord and the placenta can easily be multiplied in the laboratories for multiple uses. In fact, it is saved in such a way, that a portion of the blood is ready for immediate use. And the other part can be extensively used for stem cell cultivation. Another argument in favor of stem cells preservation is that, it can be used by your other siblings too. They do not have to wait for an ideal donor for the perfect match and multiple extractions, if required. Treatment can be started as soon as possible.
Cord blood banking is a recent phenomenon. It is a wonder of science wherein the stem cells are preserved in the form of cord blood. A Public cord blood bank is unlike a private cord blood bank. It provides free service however; your stored cord blood can be used for another patient as well. For more information visit pregnancy.
This type of banking is increasing in popularity over the past few years. Two types of banks specialize in collection and preservation- public bank and the private bank. Public banking services are free. Here, you can preserve your child´s stem cells. However, one important point here is that here, you are assured of a unit of cord blood unit when required. It may not necessarily be your unit. It is highly likely that if your unit of blood is a perfect match for a little 5 year old residing on the other side of the country, he will be given preference, provided you are not in need of it in the near future. If you plan to preserve the blood, specifically for your family, you will be unable to do so in a public bank. Private banks are expensive. Nevertheless, here you can preserve the stem cells just for your family use.
More than 70 diseases can be treated with its help. Some of them are Aplastic Anemia (Severe), Beta Thalassemia Major, Sickle Cell Disease, Hemophagocytosis, Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, Krabbe Disease, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, DiGeorge Syndrome, Osteopetrosis, etc.
The Debate….Continues
Why do we need to preserve the cord blood? Bone marrow stem cells should be enough. Well, there are still debates on this issue. There is one point that everyone agrees with. That is, umbilical cord blood has more stem cells than the bone marrow does. On the other hand, unlike the cord blood, adult donor blood is not limited by quantity. However, stem cells are more flexible, compared to the bone marrow cells. Very rarely is it seen that a patient´s body has rejected the cord blood stem cells. Stem cells for the umbilical cord and the placenta can easily be multiplied in the laboratories for multiple uses. In fact, it is saved in such a way, that a portion of the blood is ready for immediate use. And the other part can be extensively used for stem cell cultivation. Another argument in favor of stem cells preservation is that, it can be used by your other siblings too. They do not have to wait for an ideal donor for the perfect match and multiple extractions, if required. Treatment can be started as soon as possible.
Cord blood banking is a recent phenomenon. It is a wonder of science wherein the stem cells are preserved in the form of cord blood. A Public cord blood bank is unlike a private cord blood bank. It provides free service however; your stored cord blood can be used for another patient as well. For more information visit pregnancy.
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