Cord Blood Registry - FAQ'S

Q. What is cord blood?

A. Cord blood is the blood that is collected from the umbilical cord at the time of childbirth. It contains stem cells that can be used in treating a number of genetic diseases. You can store this cord blood at a cord blood registry or bank.

Q. What is a stem cell?

A. A stem cell is a cell that has the ability to renew itself and recreate any type of blood cell. It is used to treat people suffering from blood and immune system related diseases by transplantation.

Q. How is cord blood collected?

A. There are two methods in which umbilical cord blood is collected by the cord blood registry. One is where it is collected after the baby is born but before the delivery of the placenta. The other method is after the placenta is also delivered. Either way, it is a harmless and painless procedure.

Q. How is cord blood processed?

A. After the blood is collected it has to be sent to a cord blood registry or bank within 48 hours where it is screened for infectious diseases and its tissue type is checked. The red cells are then removed and it is frozen in liquid nitrogen to be preserved for future use.

Q. What is cord blood banking?

A. The process where your cord blood is preserved for future transplantation is called cord blood banking.

Q. What are the types of cord blood banks available?

A. There are two types of cord blood banks, public and private. A public cord blood bank is where you can donate your blood to be used by anyone who needs it. A private bank is where you can preserve your blood to be used exclusively by you and your family.

Q. Who should store their cord blood?

A. Anybody with a family history of genetic blood or immune system related diseases should store their cord blood. That way they can be assured of their own blood being available in case they need a transplant in the future.

Q. What diseases can be treated using cord blood stem cells?

A. There over 70 different diseases that can be treated using stem cell transplants. Some of these are leukemia, sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia, thalassemia and Hodgkins lymphoma. Cord blood research has shown that some non-genetic ailments can also be treated such as spinal cord injuries, neurological disorders and heart ailments. There is even some positive indication that diabetes can also be treated using this treatment.

Q. What would it cost to donate my cord blood?

A. Cord blood donation can be done free of cost as it is for the general public. The cord blood unit does not belong to you anymore but to the bank therefore you do not need to pay for storing it. The cord blood unit is put on a cord blood registry where anybody can have access to it.

Q. What does it cost to store my cord blood in a cord blood registry?

A. If you store your cord blood in a private bank, you are doing so for future use of yourself and your family exclusively. A private cord blood bank charges an enrolment fee which usually includes the collection and processing charges. It is usually around $500 - $1000. There is also a yearly maintenance fee of around $100.

Q. Why should I store my cord blood?

A. You should store your cord blood in a cord blood registry, so that you have the assurance of knowing that it is immediately available for transplant in case you or somebody in your family needs one urgently.