How, when and where is the umbilical cord blood obtained?
The umbilical cord blood is collected after the baby has been delivered and the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut. The cord blood can then be obtained before or after the delivery of the placenta (afterbirth). In the postplacental method (ex-utero method), the trained personnel will collect the umbilical cord blood after the afterbirth has been taken out of the mother’s womb. In the preplacental method (In-utero method), the physician/obstetrician collects the cord blood in the delivery unit while the placenta is still in the womb. The average blood volume collected is higher in the preplacental method. Using sterile techniques, the trained collection specialist inserts a sterile needle into the umbilical vein to allow drainage of the blood by gravity into a sterile container containing anticoagulant; this can be accomplished either through a closed system via a sterile bag or an open system using a syringe. The entire collection process averages 5 to 10 minutes. The collected un
