What Is Cord Blood Used for in Health Care?

by Contributing Writer

Overview

Cord blood, which is rich in blood-forming stem cells, is collected after a baby's birth and stored in a cord blood banking facility for future use by family members or the general public to treat more than 70 different blood and immune system diseases.
Identification

After a birth and the umbilical cord is cut, some blood remains in the blood vessels of the placenta and the portion of the umbilical cord that remains attached to the placenta. This cord blood contains copious amounts of blood-forming stem cells similar to those found in bone marrow.

Function

Cord blood is used as a treatment for blood and immune system disorders. According to the National Cord Blood Program, researchers are experimenting with the use of cord blood stem cells as an alternative to bone marrow and to replace cells of other tissues such as nerve or heart cells.
Process

According to the cord blood bank Viacord, cord blood preservation is possible after a vaginal or cesarean birth and takes two to four minutes. Parents must obtain a collection kit prior to the birth and a doctor or midwife must collect the blood and send it to a processing facility for storage.
Benefits

Since cord blood banking began in the mid-1990s, cord blood has been used to treat more than 70 different diseases. The most common disease treated with cord blood is leukemia.
Considerations

Cord blood can be preserved in a private or public cord blood bank. The American Association of Pediatrics encourages parents to donate cord blood to public cord blood banks for future use by other individuals.

Overview