Cord Blood Banking: Facts & Fiction
There’s a little known fact about cord blood banking that is probably the most distressing notes Marti Schaake, Laboratory Manager of Stem CellFreeze Cord Blood banking. “The ethical controversy surrounding stem cells is really a moot point! Stem cells can be obtained by umbilical cord blood at birth in a quick and painless procedure yet its discarded thousands of times a day throughout the U.S.”
Umbilical cord blood is considered the purest source of stem cells, the immature but wonderfully versatile precursors to all organ systems in the human body. Stem cells obtained at birth and under the right conditions have demonstrated tremendous potential. Preliminary research has demonstrated its benefits by growing livers, ears, and even cardiac (heart) fibers in-vitro or in a laboratory.
Stem CellFreeze is the city’s first and most experienced umbilical cord blood company yet few know how important it is to bank their baby’s cord blood. Schaake is hoping to change that through education to all folks but especially pregnant women.
“There are a number of umbilical cord blood banks out there including ours,” Schaake notes. “People’s main objection is the cost, but if they realized the equipment necessary to test and process as well as store the blood components, and then compare that to an insurance policy that could potential save the lives of loved ones, I think the $2,000 would seem invaluable.”
Indeed umbilical cord blood is invaluable. Every day medical science is finding new and better uses for stem cells. Currently over 70 life-threatening diseases can be treated with umbilical cord blood’s stem cells including Sickle Cell Anemia, Tay Sachs Disease, many cancers as well as several muscular dystrophies.
A 2006 New England Journal of Medicine article reported that non-related adult cancer patients had benefited from stem cells obtained by cord blood. And this trend is expected to continue.
Cord blood banks are not without controversy, however. Many pediatricians see them as unnecessary but as medical research demonstrates the new and profound ways cord blood cord can benefit people, these sentiments are slowly changing.
According to Schaake, “Consumers are the folks who will determine whether cord blood banking becomes mainstream. It used to be fathers didn’t even see the births of their babies, and now they’re a major player in the baby’s delivery, often clamping off the cord.”
Obtaining cord blood is much like an insurance policy. Sadly, of the thousands of births that occur everyday in the U.S., less than 1/3 of women bank the cord blood. There is no pain to either mom or baby as the blood is obtained from the umbilical cord.
Says Schaake, “Getting cord blood takes about 15 minutes and it doesn’t matter if it’s a vaginal or cesarean delivery, as long as the doctor or midwife is familiar with your desire to bank beforehand.”
Perhaps the most promising prospect of cord blood is the development of a cord blood bank in southern Nevada where women can donate their baby’s cord blood samples to benefit others.
When seeking the services of a cord blood bank, Schaake encourages people to do their homework.
One should seek a bank with experience in cryopreservation or freezing. The bank should be accredited or at least in the process of accreditation, and have a stable facility and management team in place. If there are other patients to talk to about the experience, that is helpful as is any information on using samples for treatments. Lastly, make sure the representatives answer your questions adequately.
As Schaake said, “This is the best insurance policy we have available today so it’s important to choose a company that can meet that confidence. Hopefully you’ll never need to use the cord blood sample, but if you do, a quality facility will be the best bet for the future.”
Stem CellFreeze is southern Nevada’s oldest umbilical cord blood banking facility with over two decades of freezing experience. For more information, call Stem CellFreeze at 702-496-5425 or visit online at www.CellFreeze.com <http://www.CellFreeze.com/> . Submitted by S. Chayra.
