The collection process takes place after delivery when the cord has been separated from your newborn infant. In no way does it interfere with the birth of your baby. Your attending physician, nurse or midwife collects the cord blood utilizing a sterile kit provided by Cord Partners. The collected cord blood is sealed in a specially designed package and delivered to our laboratory for testing and processing. Finally, the sample is cryogenically stored until it needs to be retrieved.

No, umbilical cord blood cells are taken from the baby's umbilical cord and placenta after the baby is born, and not from an embryo.

Cord blood stem cells are different from other stem cells. Stem cells from Umbilical cords are the youngest of all the stem cells, created by a live birth. Another form of stem cells come from embryo's. These embroyonic stem cells are not currently being used to treat humans. A third type of stem cells is found in bone marrow, which are adult stem cells.

Cord blood stem cells have a number of significant advantages over other sources of stem cells (i.e., bone marrow): results in a lower rate of severe graft-vs-host disease (a major complication in stem cell transplants), and In addition, cord blood is "privileged" or unexposed to most diseases, which can make bone marrow from an adult more difficult to use in transplantation.

The preserved cord blood stem cells are, of course, available as a perfect match for the child from whose umbilical cord they were collected. Because there is a 1-in-4 chance of a perfect match with a sibling, parents may choose to make the cord blood available to siblings or potentially other family members who may need them. That decision is theirs alone.

Sufficient years have not passed to prove the absolute length of time; however, it is believed that stem cells can be successfully stored long term, perhaps decades, in a cryopreserved form. A recent study of cord blood at Indiana University demonstrated its viability after 15 years of cryogenic storage. Bone marrow has been stored for decades and has remained viable; there is no reason to believe that the same would not be true of cord blood.

Until the child is of legal age, the parents, as the child's guardians, have control over the stem cells. No stem cells will be released by Cryo-Cell without the parents' consent initially, and later the child's consent, once they reach legal age.

The regenerative potential of stem cells is greater in cells obtained from earlier stages of differentiation. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are relatively accessible at birth, and have been demonstrated to be at an earlier stage of differentiation relative to adult stem cells derived from bone marrow or mobilized peripheral blood, while not being associated with the practical and ethical concerns of harvesting embryonic stem cells, particularly forautologous use.

Cord blood stem cells offer many advantages over other stem cells, especially bone marrow stem cells, including: Cord blood is a rich and non-controversial source of stem cells. The collection procedure is quick and very safe and poses no risk or discomfort to mother or baby Cord blood stem cells transplants cause less Graft vs.

Yes. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are the "youngest," safely available stem cells and they are the product of another miracle - a live birth. Freezing these cells essentially stops the clock and prevents aging and damage that may occur to the cells later in life. Another source of stem cells, embryonic stem cells, has been at the heart of heated debate. Currently, embryonic stem cells are not being used to treat humans.

NIH cannot accept donated umbilical cord stem cells from the general public. The National Marrow Donor Program maintains a Web page on donating cord blood at http://www.marrow.org/NMDP/cord_blood_bank_list.html, and the International Cord Blood Society has one at http://www.cordblood.org/index.php?rm=common_page&id=10.

This is a controversial topic. While some scientists have reported evidence that hematopoietic stem cells can repair cardiac tissue, others have proven otherwise. Another research group reported that the bone marrow contained cells that could repair the liver. Later studies showed that the bone marrow cells did not form liver cells, but rather fused with those cells. Despite these negative results, interesting new information has been gained.

No, umbilical cord stem cells and embryonic stem cells are totally different. Sometimes there is a misperception due to the recent publicity about embryonic stem cells and the controversy about the federal government funding research for embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are involved with discharged fetuses either from a miscarriage or an abortion. These fetuses are the source for embryonic stem cells, which are being used for research purposes.

Cord blood stem cells are harvested from a child's umbilical cord shortly after delivery. The process is painless and simple and in no way interferes with the health of the child. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from fertilized eggs that are in the early stages of development. While embryonic stem cells have a much greater ability to differentiate into other types of cells, many people have ethical and moral issues with the source of the stem cells.

To bank the most stem cells possible. Banking both placental and cord blood stem cells provides a greater collection than standard cord blood collections alone. Increasing the total number of stem cells has been proven to improve the potential for a successful transplant should your family ever need the stem cells you are storing.

The amount of cells necessary is proportional to the weight of the patient, so the change is better for a child than for an adult. But doctors are trying to increase in number the stem cells present in the blood specimen.

Absolutely. An important reason for recommending cord blood banking is because in the past several years, stem cell research has shown how these amazing cells can cure a variety of childhood and adult diseases, and emerging uses include the treatment and possible cure of many health conditions such as heart disease, spinal injury and more.

Human cord blood, neural stem cells and human embryonic stem cell banks have been established in various countries and are currently being expanded. Cord blood, like bone marrow, is stored as a source of hematopoietic stem cells for the treatment of specific genetic and acquired diseases in allogeneic stem-cell transplantation therapies. Neural stem cells, which are derived from aborted fetuses, are stored in banks for the potential treatment of brain specific diseases.

Umbilical cord blood stem cells are controversy-free and offer advantages over other types of stem cells. While your baby’s own stem cells are a perfect match (100%), there is a good probability of a match for siblings, parents and or grandparents.

Yes, one type of stem cell is found in umbilical cord blood. This type, known as a hematopoietic or blood-forming stem cell, is more specialized than embryonic stem cells, but it has the ability to generate all types of blood and immune system cells. It does not have the ability to form cells in other tissues, like the brain.

Encouraging research is taking place in many areas of medicine. Stem cell research into diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, lupus, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy and other autoimmune diseases have all shown promising results. Research has been based on the plasticity of stem cells and the potential to direct them into other cell types, such as heart, nerve, liver and pancreas cells.

Current data reflects that cord blood cells stored for fifteen years have the same composition as they did at the time of storage. All science involving cryogenic storage of cells also indicates that the cells should remain viable indefinitely.

New treatments continue to emerge as doctors and scientists research potential future treatments for a variety of diseases including Alzheimerâ??s disease, Parkinsonâ??s disease, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

You can donate your babyâ??s cord blood, however, there are a limited number of hospitals and banks accepting donations mostly due to funds constrains. Because many families would like the option to donate their babyâ??s cord blood, in August 2005 Family Cord Blood Services started offering a Public Donation OptionSM. Our Public Donation Option program is an elective program combining the best aspects of both private and public cord blood banking.