Written By, Chris Bauer MD

Are you currently pregnant and wondering about the value of cord blood banking? If so, then you are not alone. Cord blood banking has become more common in the last thirty years. There are private and public cord blood companies that can offer patients different options on how their cord blood can be used and stored. Public cord blood collection can offer therapies for other people and can offer opportunities for further research. 

Cord blood collection is the process in which after the delivery of a baby, the blood from the umbilical cord is collected by the medical provider that did the delivery.  Prior to her delivery, the mother will make the arrangements with the cord blood company and with her obstetrician. There are 28 cord blood banking companies in North America for patients to choose from according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  Most of the time the consumer will be provided with a cord blood collection kit that she will bring with her when she goes to deliver her baby. Cord blood can be collected whether a patient has a vaginal or a cesarean section. Several ounces of blood are needed in order to have a specimen that can be processed. If delayed cord clamping must be done to assist the health of the infant, then cord blood collection may not be possible.

Over 80 different medical conditions can be treated using material from cord blood banking. There currently is significant research into how more diseases can be treated using cord blood specimen. After the birth of the baby, the cord blood is collected. The cord blood is then stored and if the child develops one of the medical conditions where cord blood could be used as a treatment then the parents will let the cord blood collection company know and further arrangements will be made.  Some of the more common medical conditions that can be treated with fetal cord blood include Sickle Cell anemia, type 1 diabetes, cerebral palsy, thalassemia, leukemia and lymphoma. In addition, some rarer diseases such as Fanconi anemia, DiGeorge Syndrome, and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder(SCID) can also be treated with cord blood.

The technology and research involved in fetal cord blood usage is rapidly growing every year. There is currently significant research and more clinical trials into how more diseases can be treated using cord blood specimen. The basis of cord blood collection is that inside the umbilical cord blood that is collected are stem cells. Stem cells are cells that can form into the type of cells that the body needs at that time such as red cells, platelets, and white cells. These cells are from the babies own body. There is very minimal risk for a potential transfusion to fail because of an incompatibility with blood type and antibody. Due to a families shared genetic information first-degree relatives (parents and siblings) and second-degree relatives (grandparents and uncles, etc.) could potentially use the cord blood collected from one family member.

Cord blood collection could be greatly beneficial for any person. Schedule an informed conversation with your women’s health provider to answer any questions you may have about cord blood banking.