What is cord blood?
Cord blood, or umbilical cord blood, is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of birth. Typically, the placenta, umbilical cord and cord blood are discarded after delivery as medical waste. However, medical science now recognizes that cord blood is a rich source of stem cells, which can be collected, processed and cryogenically preserved for potential, future use.
Cord Blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after the baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut. This blood contains cells (called stem cells) which are capable of developing into many different types of cells in the body. Collecting this blood, which historically was considered medical waste, poses no risk or pain to the mother or baby. These cells are similar to bone marrow cells and can be used to treat over 75 life-threatening diseases, including leukemias, anemias, lymphomas, and inborn errors of metabolism. For more information about cord blood banking and donation, please visit the National Marrow Donor Program – http://www.marrow.
