Cord Blood Storage: The Frozen Life Line

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Pharmeceutical-Medical )



PURE BLOOD

Cord blood storage is an idea whose time has come. Cord blood has been proven to be a gold mine of undifferentiated stem cells. These undifferentiated stem cells can develop into various types of tissue depending on where they have been transfused.

Cord blood donation in now being considered a better alternative to bone marrow transfusion in cases where blood-forming cell production has to be reestablished in the body. While bone marrow is effective, the downside is that there is a high risk of mismatching and consequent failure to graft. The higher purity and patency of cord blood makes it less likely to cause an immune reaction which can be fatal in some individuals.

This lesser tendency of cord blood to invoke graft versus host disease or GVHD demands less stringent tissue typing procedures. Cord blood donation has been found to be successful even in cases of tissue mismatch, which makes it easier to find a recipient for cord blood donation.

THE CHOICE TO SAVE

In light of these life-saving characteristics, more and more mothers are considering cord blood storage to save their newborn baby’s cord blood in case a future medical situation calls for it. Cord blood banks are sprouting all over the country in the hopes of encouraging more mothers to choose cord blood storage or cord blood banking.

Cord blood has been found to be effective even after being frozen for ten years, so cord blood storage can be a prudent decision especially if you have a family history of leukemia or other blood-related illnesses.

Cord blood storage is a service offered by cord blood banks. After the cord blood has been collected, it is stored in a freezer to keep their potency. However, before making any commitment, you have to consider the costs of cord blood storage, which can be steep. But if you can very well afford it, then there is nothing to lose.


All rights Reserved © Tradenet Services srl
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.