Why is cord blood donation important?
Despite the thousands of bone marrow transplants performed thus far, many patients are unable to undergo this potentially life saving procedure. A major limiting factor is the availability of stem cells that are adequately matched to the donor. The best source of these matched cells is usually a patient?s brother or sister. Unfortunately, only about a third of all potential recipients in need of such a donor have a matched family member. Unrelated, compatible donors can be identified, and their cells used successfully in transplants. More than 3.9 million Americans have been voluntarily typed, and are listed with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) as potential marrow donors. Approximately 25% of all stem cell transplants performed today utilize unrelated marrow donors. Still, despite the large number of volunteers in the NMDP, over 30% of patients without a family match are unable to find a suitably matched unrelated donor. This is especially true for those of Asian, Polynesian,
