Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

Stem Cell/Cord Blood storage?

Has anyone had their newborns stem cells or cord blood stored for the future? If so what did you do? Which company did you choose? Any other useful info or tips?

Public Comments

1. i havnt had them stored but i have donated both my daughters umbilical cords for research purposes, i just signed a consent form for this.
2. This is not necessary. Stem cells are found throught the body. Even in the epidermis. While cord stem cells were thought to be the most totipotent (easy to change) types, there has been recent advances which allow any stem cell to be returned to its undifferentiated state. There still continues to be major problems with stem cell research. We still cannot control what type of cells these stem cells differentiate into. We have to place them into tissues we want them to mimic and hope that they all recieve the proper chemical signals and become the tissues we desire. There is still a lot of problems with unwanted tumors of undesirable tissues forming where we do not want them. Given another 10 to 20 years I am sure we will be able to exercise greater chemical control over their differentiation.
3. Donating is a wonderful thing!!!! Please disregard Steven I's comment that it is not necessary. I was the recipient of a cord blood transplant after an extensive search for bone marrow that did not return any matches. A cord blood transplant was my only option at life. The science behind this technology is continually progressing and you can't imagine the life-saving possibilities. Cord blood usually gets thrown away after birth so why not donate it in case someone else is a match for a cure. Imagine if someone you knew's life depended on something that gets discarded everyday, what would you do? I've attached a link where you can find a list of collecting hospitals. http://www.marrow.org/ABOUT/NMDP_Network/Cord_Blood_Banks/CB_Participating_Hospitals/nmdp_cord_blood_hospitals.pl "If you are unable to locate your delivering hospital in the list below, you may contact Cryobanks International at 1-800-869-8608. Donations are accepted from anywhere in the Continental United States. Donors must meet Cryobanks International's eligibility requirements and register with Cryobanks International between their 28th and 35th week of pregnancy." - This is where they'll send you a kit to bring to the hospital when you deliver. You'll work with your dr to plan this out. I've also attached a link below to my story in case you're interested.
4. I think what steven was trying to say is that storing your own cord blood is not necessary as it is just as useful to use donated blood. Although I think Tran is right by saying donating is important as hopefully if you need it it will be available, and you could possibly safe a life by donating your own instead of saving it for yourself which cost you money.
5. The source nowadays, is plentiful, and fresh stem cells are harvested from normal blood, umbilical cords, and in some cases, as byproduct of bone marrow extractions, that there is no real need of "storing" stem cells in frozen state, (liquid nitrogen)..on the other hand, it has been proved, that stem cells once frozen, are rendered useless,,,,sorry to disappoint you......