Banking Umbilical Cord Blood
Physician Reference Page
Background on Banking Umbilical Cord Blood
Umbilical Cord blood is the rich and diverse source of newborn stem cells that is collected from the umbilical cord immediately following the birth of a child. Unlike other stem cell sources, there are no ethical concerns connected to the collection of these valuable stem cells, and their use in the treatment of life threatening cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, as well as immune system deficiencies and blood disorders, continues to expand.
Cord blood is rich in multipotent hematopoietic "stem cells" (or blood stem cells). These cord blood stem cells produce the cellular ingredients necessary for the blood and the immune system. When these cells are transplanted into patients, they can help restore the immune and blood systems to help fight diseases and replace diseased blood.
Stem cells collected from cord blood are being evaluated as regenerative therapies for a broad array of conditions including type1 diabetes, cerebral palsy, heart conditions and stroke.
Cord Blood Knowledge Study, 2006
This study reveals that more than half (70%) of pregnant women have a poor knowledge of the benefits and process of collecting cord blood; 66% believe their physician should have spoken to them about umbilical cord collection. Patients' knowledge of umbilical cord blood banking, 2006.
This percentage has not decreased dramatically from a previous study in 2003, indicating that 74% of pregnant women felt "minimally informed" about cord blood banking. Cord Blood Knowledge Study, 2003, CV, Gordon K, Van den Hof M, Taweel S, Baylis F, Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Legislative News about Banking Umbilical Cord Blood
Legislation came to the floor in 2005 regarding the education and proposed banking of umbilical cord stem cells. Much of the legislative news since then is sourced from activity in California. Interest in legislation regarding the required education of prospective parents about banking umbilical cord blood is anticipated to grow due to the Obama administration's interest in health care and biomedical research.
California Maternal and Child Health Advancement Act
Patient Education Materials for Banking Umbilical Cord Blood
MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories has prepared several educational resources for you and your patients:
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Contact us for brochures to place in your office for the purpose of educating your patients about banking umbilical cord blood.
Need more information? View a list of cord blood related links.
