UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD

Umbilical Cord Blood (Haematopoietic stem cells – HSCs) stem cells produce all your blood and immune system cells. HSC’s are currently used in over 70 clinically approved treatments. With 130 million births worldwide this represents the largest untapped source of stem cells available today.

Cord blood is generally defined as blood contained within the umbilical cord and contiguous placental circulation. These stem cells help the embryo develop into a fully grown baby. As the baby develops, the umbilical cord and the populating red blood cells must also grow and multiply to provide it with nutrition and oxygen.

Cord stem cells can be harvested from the umbilical cord of new-born babies without any risk to mother or infant, and it is a painless procedure. The number of stem cells available for storage relates directly to the volume of cord blood that is collected after birth.

The cells can only be collected for a limited period immediately after birth and the non-invasive procedure takes the physician or gynaecologist around five minutes to perform. The collection can be performed either after natural birth or caesarean section.

Saving your baby’s stem cells at birth is a truly once in a lifetime opportunity, for baby, parents and siblings. Your baby’s stem cells will be a 100% match for the baby, a 1-in-4 chance of tissue matching siblings and a 1-in-8 chance of tissue matching parents.