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The Importance of Storing
Cord Blood
By
Carolyn Amato, RNC
Cord blood retrieval is
one of the latest breakthroughs in modern
medical research. The umbilical cord
contains blood that is very rich in stem
cells that may be used instead of a bone
marrow transplant. This program allows
expectant parents to preserve their baby’s
cord blood for the child’s future
should the need arise.
What is Cord Blood?
Cord blood refers to the blood that
remains in the umbilical cord and in the
placenta after it is separated from the
newborn following childbirth. The
umbilical cord and placenta (also known
as afterbirth) are expelled and usually
discarded after childbirth.
The blood found in these organs is
rich in a special cell type called stem
cells. Stem cells not only generate all
the cell types found in blood but they
also can be used to treat a variety of
life threatening diseases including
leukemia, other cancers, blood and immune
disorders, and sickle cell anemia.
Why Donate Cord Blood?
Cord blood can be donated for one of
two reasons. First, a parent may choose
to donate the cord blood for use by the
child or a sibling in the event one of
those life threatening diseases develops.
In this case the cord blood stem cells
will be stored, and no one can access
these cells except the parent or child at
the age of consent. Second, the cord
blood can be donated to the community,
similar in principle to a routine blood
donation. Under these circumstances the
cord blood will be released for use by a
qualified recipient, identified through a
registry.
What are the Advantages of Saving Cord
Blood?
1. Immediate availability of matching
stem cells for your child, eliminating
the need to search for a suitable bone
marrow donor.
2. Cord blood has a better chance of
being used by a sibling of the same
parents—considerably higher than a
bone marrow match.
3. Increased safety. Cord blood stem
transplants have resulted in
significantly lower incidence of life
threatening side effects that occur in
large percentages of bone marrow
transplantations.
4. Cord blood stem cells are
especially suited for use in gene
therapy. Already, through gene therapy,
cord blood cells have been used to cure
children born with SCIDS, otherwise known
as the “bubble boy” disease.
Researchers are optimistic about similar
treatments for AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis
and diabetes.
Collection and Storage
The only time cord blood can be
collected is immediately following the
birth of a baby. In a simple 20 minute
procedure, it is collected from the
umbilical cord by the attending
physician, nurse or technician after the
placenta is expelled and after the
umbilical cord is cut from the newborn.
The procedure does not interfere in any
way with the birthing experience. On
occasion we are unable to collect
sufficient cord blood to extract the stem
cells. The blood is then sealed in
specially designed packaging for
immediate delivery to the Community Blood
Services laboratory in Paramus. Once
received, the blood is tested, processed
and banked. The cells are carefully
stored in a cryogenic freezer using
state-of-the-art procedures for optimal
cell preservation; research indicates
these cells could last indefinitely. The
cells will be uniquely labeled, and no
one can access these cells except the
donor or the child at the age of consent.
About the Author:
Carolyn Amato, RNC, is the Director
of Maternal-Child Health at Holy Name
Hospital in New Jersey.
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Copyright
© 2000 Carolyn Amato, All Rights
Reserved Reprinted with Permission
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