pregnancy-cord-blood-banking (2024)

T​he placenta, umbilical cord and the blood within it arevery important in pregnancy. However, the blood serves no purpose after delivery if discarded. Umbilical cord blood is a very good source of stem cells. The blood can be collected after delivery with no risk to the baby or mother. These blood stem cells (BSC) are proven to be useful in the treatment of many blood disorders and cancers.

What Is Cord Blood Banking?

Blood Stem Cells (BSC) from cord blood can be harvested from the umbilical cord after delivery of your baby and clamping of the cord. A small needle is then inserted into the umbilical cord after adequate sterilisation. The cord blood with the BSC is then drawn out. This process will not hurt you or your baby.​

The cord blood is then processed in the laboratory where a specific layer of cells containing the BSC will be extracted. A cryopreservative is then added before placing in liquid nitrogen tanks at approximately –180 degreesCelsius.​

​​​What are Blood Stem Cells?

BSC are immature cells that are found in the bone marrow and peripheral circulation of an adult. The blood of the umbilical cord (cord blood) also contains large amounts of these cells. They can grow and mature into red cells, white cells and platelets.

BSC are different from embryonic stem cells. There are no ethical issues with BSC as no one is harmed with the harvesting of BSC from the umbilical cord. In fact, these BSC will become waste products if not harvested and stored.

Why are BSCs so Important and Useful?

Since the 1960s, BSC has been used for stem cell transplants (SCT), also called Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) in the past as BSC were harvested from bone marrow. This treatment can potentially cure many diseases, especially blood cancers.

Unfortunately, many patients who require SCT do not have these BSCs. These BSCs are usually obtained from a matched sibling. However, many patients are from single child families (hence, no possible sibling donor) or all siblings do not match in some cases. As a result, many of these patients die.​

Can We Use Blood Stem Cells from Anyone?

HLA is Human Leukocyte Antigen and refers to the protein structures on white cells. These proteins are responsible for rejecting or accepting foreign cells. HLA is determined by the genes of both parents. Hence parents and child will only be half matched and the best chance of a match will usually be from one of the siblings. The larger the family size, the better chance of finding a match.

The success of SCT depends on HLA-matching. Graft rejection may occur from a HLA mismatch. Fortunately, BSC from cord blood is slightly different and can tolerate some mismatching.

The importance of having HLA-matched BSC has led to the development of the Bone Marrow Donor Registries from unrelated, voluntary donors in the 1980s. They help desperate patients find HLA-matched donors necessary for life-saving stem cell transplants. The first such registry was the Anthony Nolan Registry in the United Kingdom. It was set up by the parents of Anthony Nolan, who died of leukemia because he could not find a matched donor.

What is Private Cord Blood Banking?

Private cord blood banks started in the mid-1990s as knowledge of the usefulness of BSC became widespread. Individuals who appreciated the value of BSC wanted to store these BSC from their child’s cord blood for their own use. This is especially relevant for families who are planning to have one child or a small family size, late pregnancies, and those from mixed marriages. In these families, it may be difficult to find a HLA-matched donor.

Indeed, using your own BSC for SCT may be preferred for some diseases while in other diseases, such as leukemia​, it is better to use a matched sibling’s BSC.

What is Public Cord Blood Banking?

The first umbilical cord blood transplant was performed in 1989 after cord blood was shown to contain large amounts of BSC. Following this success, public cord blood banks developed across America and Europe and currently, the Singapore Cord Blood Bank has been established here.

Cord blood was harvested from voluntary pregnant ladies at delivery. The BSCs were then extracted, frozen and stored. Patients who required a SCT but do not have a donor can then search these cord blood banks for a HLA-matched donor. However, as BSC from cord blood can tolerate some mismatches, it will be easier to find a “usable” donor in public cord blood banks. ​

Should I Choose Public or Private Cord Blood Banking?

Both banks have their own roles. The public cord blood bank plays an important role for patients in Singapore and other countries to draw upon.

Individual families may wish to consider private cord blood banks for their own personal needs. Discuss with the co-ordinators from both banks to enable you to make an informed decision.

Regenerative Therapy in Future

Regenerative therapy refers to the use of stem cells to produce new cells for treatment of diseased organs. Examples include the use of stem cells for treating heart failure​, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and spinal cord injuries. However, most of these are still on an experimental basis, but the initial results are very promising!

Common Myths about Cord Blood Banking​

Myth
Explanation
​​“Cord blood collection takes important blood away from my baby.”​Cord blood is normally discarded with the umbilical cord after it is clamped and cut. When you ask to have your baby’s cord blood collected, the baby’s cord blood is collected rather than thrown away. Collections can take place even after the placenta has delivered.​
​“The cells may not remain viable after longterm storage.” There is no evidence at present that cells stored at -196°C in an undisturbed manner lose either in-vitro determined viability or biologic activity. Therefore, at the current time, no expiration date need be assigned to cord blood stored continuously under liquid nitrogen.​

Acknowledgement

Source:Dr TANThiam Chye,Dr TAN Kim Teng,Dr TAN Heng Hao,Dr TEE Chee Seng John,The New Art and Science of Pregnancy and Childbirth, World Scientific 2008.

Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides for a healthy pregnancy.

Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.

pregnancy-cord-blood-banking (2024)

FAQs

Does cord blood banking really work? ›

Although commercial cord blood banks often bill their services as "biological insurance" against future diseases, the blood doesn't often get used. One study says the chance that a child will use their cord blood over their lifetime is between 1 in 400 and 1 in 200,000.

What percentage of people do cord blood banking? ›

According to Cell Trials Data, a provider of data on clinical trials of advances cell therapy, cord blood banking rates are highest in the US, at 3% of births each year.

How much blood is needed for cord blood banking? ›

The median size of cord blood collections in family banks is 60mL or 2 ounces. That small volume of blood corresponds to 470 million Total Nucleated Cells (TNC) or 1.8 million cells that test positive for the stem cell marker CD34.

Is it worth saving umbilical cord blood? ›

Doctors do not recommend that you bank cord blood on the slight chance that your baby will need stem cells someday. If your baby were to need stem cells, he or she would probably need stem cells from someone else rather than his or her own stem cells.

What are the cons of cord blood banking? ›

Disadvantages of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
  • Slow engraftment.
  • Limited cell dose. — Small volume of unit. — Additional cell doses unavailable.
  • Autologous donation may have limited benefit owing to hereditary disorders.
  • Storage issues. — Unknown length of long-term storage. — Cost related to long-term storage. —

Is it better to donate or keep cord blood? ›

Typically the umbilical cord and placenta are discarded after your baby is born—unless you decide otherwise. You can choose to have your baby's cord blood collected and donated to a public cord blood bank, stored in a family (private) cord blood bank, or saved for a biological sibling who has a diagnosed medical need.

Why is cord blood banking so expensive? ›

Public banks are subject to much higher regulatory requirements, and compliance with regulations carries costs. At a family bank you pay the bank enough to cover the cost of storing your baby's cord blood, plus they make a profit.

How much does it cost to put cord blood in a bank? ›

If parents choose to store their infant's cord blood in a private bank, a collec- tion fee that ranges from $900 to $2000 and an annual storage fee of approximately $90 to $150 may be required. Fees vary between private banks. How do we decide whether to donate?

How long can you keep cord blood banking? ›

Choices for storing cord blood

Some experts believe it can be stored for 21 years or more. You have two choices for storing cord blood: public storage or private storage. These storage spaces are referred to as "banks." The facility you choose should be accredited through the American Association of Blood Banks.

Is cord blood banking covered by insurance? ›

Some insurance providers will cover the cost of cord blood banking when collection is medically necessary. For example, depending on the provider, families with a history of leukemia or other blood disorders may be eligible for total or partial coverage of the costs of cord blood collection and storage.

Why is cord blood so valuable? ›

How does umbilical cord blood help save lives? Umbilical cord blood contains blood-forming stem cells, which can renew themselves and differentiate into other types of cells. Stem cells are used in transplants for patients with cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

What do hospitals do with placenta after birth? ›

Do Hospitals Keep Placentas? Hospitals treat placentas as medical waste or biohazard material. The newborn placenta is placed in a biohazard bag for storage. Some hospitals keep the placenta for a period of time in case the need arises to send it to pathology for further analysis.

What is the average cost of cord blood banking? ›

If parents choose to store their infant's cord blood in a private bank, a collec- tion fee that ranges from $900 to $2000 and an annual storage fee of approximately $90 to $150 may be required. Fees vary between private banks. How do we decide whether to donate?

What do hospitals do with placenta and umbilical cord? ›

Usually, the umbilical cord and placenta are discarded after birth. If a mother chooses to have her cord blood collected, the health care team will do so after the baby is born. With a sterile needle, they'll draw the blood from the umbilical vessels into a collection bag.

Does insurance pay for cord blood banking? ›

Some insurance providers will cover the cost of cord blood banking when collection is medically necessary. For example, depending on the provider, families with a history of leukemia or other blood disorders may be eligible for total or partial coverage of the costs of cord blood collection and storage.

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