Umbilical Cord Blood: Whats the deal?
Umbilical cord blood is blood found in the umbilical cord and placenta that is very rich in hematopoietic stem cells. Cord blood is usually extracted after the umbilical cord has been detached from the baby. It is then used as a source for stem cells for transplantation.
Cord blood stem cells are much more proliferate and have a much higher chance of matching related family members than stem cells from bone marrow. Fathers have about a 25% chance of matching their childs cord blood stem cells and siblings have a 25% chance of being a perfect match.
Beginning in the late 80's, cord blood stem cells have been used to treat a number of blood and immune system related genetic cancers, diseases and disorders. Because of medical issues around using ones own cells, in nearly every instance the treatments are done using cells from another donor. The vast majority are usually unrelated.
Tags: blood banking, unbilical cord, umblical cord, umbillical cord, umbilical cord, blood banks, umblical cord, storing cord, fetal cord
|