Cord blood banking

The cord blood is the blood that is in a newborn baby’s umbilical cord and the placenta after birth
and after the umbilical cord has been cut. The collection and storage of cord blood with the intention of using it to treat a medical condition.

Cord blood contains blood stem cells (also called Haematopoietic stem cells), which can turn into the cells found in blood and the immune system. Blood stem cells can be used in transplants to treat diseases like leukemia as well as some genetic conditions.

No. Many organs and tissues in the human body contain “adult stem cells”.

These can be found in people of all ages and can develop into a number of types

of cells in the body, such as liver cells and nerve cells. Cord blood stem cells are one type of adult stem cell. Blood stem cells, like those found in cord blood, are also present in bone marrow (inside the bone cavities, where blood is formed). Bone marrow stem cells can also be released into the peripheral blood (blood that is circulating in the body) under certain circumstances.

GENETIC CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED WITH CORD BLOOD.

You would need to discuss potential treatments with the doctor looking after the child/family member with the genetic condition, but in general terms, conditions that can be treated with bone marrow transplant can often be treated using a cord blood transplant, and the groups of genetic conditions for which cord stem cell transplant might be offered are:

metabolic storage disorders

some immune system disorders

Haematological disorders including Haemoglobinopathies, e.g.Thalassaemia and sickle cell disease. For these disorders it is important for families to know that the cord blood must be an exact tissue match (‘HLA-identical’) with the affected child – otherwise the cord blood cannot be used for a transplant. The chance of the cord blood being an exact match is around 25%. (A good HLA match is required for metabolic storage and immune system disorders but an exact match is not necessary for all of them.)

THE ADVANTAGES OF A CORD BLOOD TRANSPLANT, COMPARED WITH A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT

(the standard treatment) are as follows:

there are fewer complications with a cord blood transplant

it is easier to find a match from stem cells than from bone marrow. This, in turn, leads to increased access to transplantation, particularly for patients from ethnic minorities

cord blood can be frozen and stored .for years so it is more readily available

there are fewer delays with a cord blood transplant. Delays are inevitable in the case of bone marrow transplants because of the need to search registers, contact would-be donors and the bone marrow retrieval procedure itself.

MORE CORD BLOOD BANKING

The cord blood might not contain enough stem cells for a transplant, particularly if the transplant recipient is an adult. If this is the case, cord blood from unrelated donors can be used instead of or in addition to your stored cord blood.

There could be practical drawbacks, for example in some hospitals it may be difficult to arrange for the cord blood to be collected. Also, the blood will not be collected if this will distract staff from caring for the mother in labour and the newborn baby.

Cord blood transplant to treat genetic conditions is quite demanding for the patient. As is the case with bone marrow transplants, it would involve high-dose chemotherapy to suppress the immune system, followed by the patient being in isolation after the transplant has been given.

The potential risks and benefits should be discussed with your obstetrician and

the doctor looking after the child/family member with the genetic condition. You should also try to seek specialist advice on risks and benefits from a centre that specializes in the genetic condition affecting your family.

IF YOU DECIDE TO USE A PRIVATE CORD BLOOD BANK, THESE QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK THEM?

Is the bank licensed by the HTA to store cord blood?

Can cord blood stored with the bank be used for transplants in NHS hospitals?

Will my child’s cord blood only be available for my family to use?

What technology does the bank use to process the cord blood (is the cord blood stored whole or reduced

volume)?

Has the bank had any successful cord blood transplants?

Who are the bank’s staff and what are their qualifications?

Where will the cord blood be stored?

How long will they store the cord blood for?

How will they ensure the security of my cord blood?

What would happen to my cord blood if the storage facility broke down?

What would happen to my cord blood if the bank went out of business?

How will they safeguard the privacy of my information?

Will the bank use my child’s cord blood for any other purposes, e.g. for research?

Will there be any additional costs?

Could there be any problems that I might need to bear in mind?

Have a secure life to all……….