CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS
Cord Blood stem cells are hematopoietic stem cells. Since the first cord blood transplant in 1989, umbilical cord blood transplantation has developed into standard of care. To date, cord blood has been the source of stem cells for a stem cell transplant over 12,000 times. Cord blood units are routinely used to treat over 90 diseases and disorders. In the United States,the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) operates an extensive network of public cord blood banks that receive government funding and list their donated cord blood units on the NMDP registry. When a patient requires a stem cell transplant, physicians now search both the bone marrow registry as well as the cord blood registry to locate the best available stem cell option. In addition to public cord blood banks, there are also a number of private cord blood banks that offer parents the ability to save their new born’s stem cells as a family resource. More information about both public and private cord blood banking is available on this website.
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