Cord Blood Storage
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Related Keywords : Umbilical Cord Blood Storage, Cord Blood Banking, Umbilical Cord Stem Cells, Cord Blood Donation, Cord Blood Registry, Cord Blood Bank, Stem Cell Storage, Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Research, Viacord Public Cord Blood Storage
Stem cells found in human bone marrow have been used for years to treat diseases such as Leukemia, Lymphoma, Anemia, and Hodgkin?s disease, in addition to inherited diseases like Sickle Cell Disease and Tay Sachs Disease. Stem cells are have been successfully used to treat more than 45 different types of diseases! These cells are viable for research and treatment purposes, but there is a stark difference between the stem cells harvested from human bone marrow and the stem cells found in embryonic and fetal sources. The stem cells that are harvested from embryonic and fetal stem cell sources contain what are known as ?young? stem cells. Compared to the stem cells that are harvested from bone marrow, called ?adult? stem cells, embryonic and fetal stem cells are known to possess qualities that enable them to adapt and change more easily. The difference between the two has elicited much excitement in the realm of medical research.
Because of the advances in using cord blood for the treatment of disease, there has been a recent developing of storage methods for parents who wish to store their newborn?s cord blood for later use and those who wish to donate their newborn?s cord blood to someone else as one would bone marrow. These cord blood storage banks are popping up all over the world and provide storage services for individuals concerned that disease may be a part of their infant?s future. When considering whether or not to choose cord blood storage, parents have several issues to research and discuss. It is important to remember that the future of one?s own offspring can result in all kinds of emotional highs and lows. The subject of cord blood storage must be undertaken in as rational a manner as possible.
Cord blood has now been used in over 6,000 stem cell transplants. As a viable treatment for disease, cord blood has proven, time and time again, that it can save lives. Every parent wants his or her child?s future to be disease free and productive. Until recently, there wasn?t much a parent could do to prevent a catastrophic or life-threatening illness in their child?s future. Even the prospect of doing so was something straight out of a science fiction movie. With advances in cord blood storage, parents are now finding options for providing a kind of ?biological insurance policy? for their children. Due to cord blood donation and the valuable stem cells it provides, even parents who have not, due to whatever reason, stored the cord blood of their newborn(s) can take advantage of this invaluable medical treatment. Cord blood can now be collected and stored indefinitely for future use for the child him/herself, a family member or even an individual who is not related but cannot find the exact match required for a bone marrow donation. This genetically unique medical resource can provide treatment that is specific to the individual or treatment that can be used as an alternative to human bone marrow. Stem cells, with the adaptability to form red blood cells which are responsible for distributing oxygen to all other cells in the body, white blood cells capable of fighting infection, and platelets which have the job of facilitating clotting, are essential cellular building blocks worth discussing and researching further.
The methods (as previously discussed) used for cord blood collection are completely dependent upon the physician and the blood storage center, registry, or collection bank. Some cord blood storage facilities prefer one method to another and some cord blood banks offer a choice to the parents or defer to the preferences of the attending physician or midwife. The first priority of the delivery room team is the well being of the mother and her newborn child. Cord blood cannot, and will not, be harvested if the life of the mother or the life of the infant is in question. When looking into storing the cord blood of their newborn children, parents should investigate a cord bank thoroughly and ask which method they use. When considering umbilical cord blood storage, parents should also concentrate on a few key issues to avoid the obvious emotional issues such a decision entails. First and foremost, parents need to beware of the bottom feeders of the cord blood donation and storage industry. There are bound to be unscrupulous vendors who will provide less than optimal service. In the instance of cord blood storage, incompetence in a cord blood storage bank can mean not only wasted money, but also the destruction of the stored cord blood. When considering cord blood storage, parents are advised to research their own family histories of disease. Not all parents are interested in cord blood banking, nor are all families advised to take advantage of this service. Cord blood storage can be expensive. Additionally, some sources argue that most families will never have need for their stored cord blood. Either way, once the subject of cord blood storage arises, parents should seek additional information before making a decision. Because there are multiple inherited conditions that cord blood has been found to treat, a family with a history of any of these conditions may wish to invest in cord blood banking. For those who can afford cord blood storage, the additional peace of mind that comes from being able to provide one?s children with future disease prevention is invaluable. Cord blood is currently considered viable for ten years after banking. Some cord blood banks have the option of continuing the storage of the cord blood sample or donating the sample for immediate use by an individual who may not be able to find a bone marrow donor. For these individuals, an umbilical cord blood transplant may be the only life-saving option available.
Once the cord blood sample has been received by the cord blood bank and has been processed to separate the red blood cells, the sample is then blended with a cryoprotectant to protect it during the freezing process. The sample is frozen slowly and the freezing process is computer monitored and a record is maintained of the freezing process. The cord blood is finally stored in a double cryocyte bag that contains liquid nitrogen. The double bagging process provides additional insulation for the sample and protects it from contaminants. The bag containing the sample is then held indefinitely in a liquid nitrogen storage containment vessel at -196 degrees Celsius (-320 degrees Fahrenheit).
An average cord blood storage contract is for a ten year period. After that period expires the contract is reevaluated and the parents then decide whether to continue to store the cord blood sample or to donate it for research or transplant use. Studies are currently underway to determine the actual length of time that cord blood can be kept in cryogenici storage. When considering a cord blood storage facility, parents should ask about the number of transplants from their stored products. Storage of cord blood is one thing, but if a cord blood bank cannot properly store and then retrieve a sample for successful transplant, parents should seek other storage options at different facility. The current successful transplant rate for stored cord blood is 80%.
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