Cord Blood Banking – Why Opt for Public Donation?

Stem cell-rich blood present in the umbilical cord of a new born is termed as cord blood (CB). Until recently, this blood was discarded along with the placenta right after the child birth. But with the recent advancements and remarkable benefits of stem cell research, scientists have discovered its life saving potential. Cord blood stem cells can be used to treat more than 80 life-threatening diseases. It is also considered as a better alternative to bone marrow transplants. Moreover, the future perspectives of CB and umbilical cord tissue look bright and promising. And that is why new-born baby’s cord blood banking has been gaining wide acceptance over the past decade. If you are an expectant parent, then you might be faced with a challenging question – whether or not to bank your baby’s cord blood and tissue? For many, the answer depends on their family medical history, financial structure and personal preference.

Most of the parents-to-be who can’t afford the higher costs of private cord blood banking may decide to discard the CB after the child birth. On the other hand, if you decide to donate the cord blood and umbilical cord tissue, then it can be a life-saving option for someone. Patients with leukemia, lymphoma or other debilitating conditions can be treated with the cord blood stem cell transplant. Donation of cord blood to a public bank is free. When you donate your newborn’s cord blood, it will be listed on the registry and provided to a patient who needs transplant quickly.

If you have decided to donate your baby’s cord blood, then you need to discuss the same with your doctor. Go through the eligibility criteria for public cord blood donation and check whether you meet them. Find more information about the list of hospitals that are tied up with the public cord blood banks so that you can work through the enrolment process.

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Difference between Cord Blood & Cord Tissue Stem Cells

If you are an expectant parent, then you might be probably busy with a lot of planning such as meeting the doctor, discussing different health issues, setting up the nursery, planning the baby shower and more. But have you ever thought about banking your new-born’s cord blood? Most of us will agree that it is one of the rarely discussed topics. But having a detailed understanding about the medical benefits of cord blood (CB) can help you in taking informed decisions regarding its banking. First of all, let’s find out what cord blood is. As we all know umbilical cord connects a baby in the womb to its mother and provides him with oxygen and nutrients. And that is why umbilical cord is considered as the lifeline of developing embryo or foetus. Soon after the child birth, this cord is cut and discarded away. But now research has shown that the blood present in the baby’s cord contains adult stem cells. Umbilical cord blood tissue, being a rich source of stem cells can be collected and stored for several therapeutical applications and research purposes.

Not just the blood present in the cord, but even the tissue of the umbilical cord is used in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine therapy. Collection ofcord blood and tissue is a quick and pain-less procedure carried out right after the child birth. But what exactly is the difference between cord blood and cord tissue? CB is a rich source of blood-forming cells or Haematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), whereas umbilical cord tissue contains Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that can differentiate into a variety of cell types. Another notable difference is that while cord blood has been used for treating more than 80 diseases, cord tissue is only available in clinical trials at this point of time. But according to the researchers, the future of cord tissue stem cell based therapy looks bright and promising. Expectant parents who wish to reap the therapeutical benefits of CB may consider banking it. Those who can’t afford the higher cord blood banking prices can also donate their new-born’s cord blood.

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Uses of Cord Blood & Tissue

The field of stem cell research have made significant stride in the recent years and the discovery of stem cell presence in umbilical cord blood was one of the remarkable achievements. Have you been thinking what exactly cord blood is? Blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta is termed as the cord blood (CB). Until recently, both the umbilical cord and placenta were discarded as medical waste right after the child birth. But during the 1970s, researchers discovered that the umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. Also known as the master cells, adult stem cells possess remarkable potential to develop into a complete array of tissue and organ cells of the body. Cord blood contains haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that are responsible for maintaining blood production in our body. On the other hand, cord tissue contains Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) that have the potential to differentiate into cartilage cells, bone cells and fat cells. Several clinical trials are underway exploring the therapeutical cord tissue benefits and applications.

Currently, umbilical cord blood is used to treat more than 80 life-threatening diseases. Some of the major conditions include cancers, blood diseases and immune deficiency disorders. HSCs present in the umbilical cord blood develop into red cells, white cells and platelets further restoring the body’s ability to produce blood. Patients with cancerous blood disorders are treated with chemotherapy or radiation, which reduces the stem cells in the bone marrow. Cord blood stem cell transplant helps to replace the damaged blood forming cells with healthy HSCs. Since the collection of cord blood is easier and probability of complications is slighter, CB transplants have become a safe and effective alternative to bone marrow stem cell transplants. On the other hand, researchers continue to investigate the therapeutical cord tissue benefits thereby offering promising hope for the treatment of several debilitating conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injury, diabetes and more.

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What is Stem Cell Research?

Stem cells, also known as master cells are a class of undifferentiated cells from which all other specialised cell types are developed. What is stem cell research? Doctors and researchers have been conducting several studies on the unique characteristics and properties of stem cells. Embryo and adult tissues are the major sources of stem cells. Adult stem cells are found in brain, bone marrow, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin and liver. Recent discovery of stem cell presence in umbilical cord blood was a new milestone in stem cell research.

Why expectant parents should think about banking or donating the cord blood? Blood found in the new-born’s umbilical cord is a rich source of stem cells. Adult stem cells found in the umbilical cord blood has the remarkable potential to divide or self-renew indefinitely. Immunologically naive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) present in the cord blood can develop into multitude of blood cells and that is what makes it ideal for the treatment of a wide variety of disorders. Acute leukemia, aplastic anemia, hodgkin’s disease, myelodysplastic syndromes, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and sickle cell disease are some of the many diseases that can be treated with the cord blood stem cell therapies. Not just the cord blood, but cord tissue cells also offer several benefits. Treatment of spinal cord injuries, heart diseases, Parkinson’s disease, cartilage disorders and cardiovascular diseases are some of the prospective cord tissue banking benefits.

Collecting the cord blood is a quick, safe and painless procedure that poses no harm to the mother or the baby. Umbilical cord is clamped and cut right after the child birth, followed by extracting the blood to a sterile collection bag. Soon after the extraction, it is send to the cord blood bank for testing, processing and storage. Having a good knowledge about the cord blood and cord tissue banking benefits can help the expectant parents to take an informed decision.

Benefits of Umbilical Cord Blood Banking

All of you might have heard about the stem cell research and treatments, right? Being the master cells of human body, stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into any type of cell. Even though stem cells are unspecialized, they can produce specialized cells. Moreover, these master cells have the capability of dividing and renewing themselves for a prolonged period of time. Such special attributes and unique features of stem cells offer the vast potential to treat a number of diseases and disorders. Stem cells can be collected from embryos, bone marrow, amniotic fluid, teeth, umbilical cord blood, placenta and umbilical cord blood tissue. Though embryonic stem cell harvesting and research has been surrounded by a lot of ethical, legal and social controversies, umbilical cord blood tissue stem cell banking has gained wide acceptance.

Medical researchers and scientists have been working hard for making the most out of the unique properties and remarkable benefits of stem cells. New therapeutic applications for these master cells are discovered every day and that is why the future possibilities of stem cell therapy looks bright for treating a number of debilitating medical conditions. Currently, stem cells are used to treat more than 80 diseases which include numerous types of malignancies, anemia’s, inherited metabolic disorders and deficiencies of the immune system. With several clinical trials and studies underway, researchers believe that stem cell treatments and regenerative medicine therapy can revolutionize the future of medicine.

If you are an expectant parent who is well aware about the incredible benefits of stem cells therapies, then you should  consider banking your newborn’s cord blood. Harvesting the umbilical cord blood and tissue is a non-invasive and painless procedure that poses no harm to the mother or the child. Newborn’s umbilical cord blood banking may prove as a rich source of life-saving treatment not only for your child but also for your family members in the future.

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Why Donate Umbilical Cord Blood to a Public Bank?

Discovery about the presence of stem cells in the umbilical cord blood  is a new milestone achieved in the stem cell research. This new medical promise of treating illness with stem cell cord blood has drawn the attention of the public. If you are still wondering what exactly this cord blood is and what is cord tissue, let us explain it in the layman terms. Blood present in the umbilical cord is termed as cord blood, whereas the tissue of the umbilical cord is termed as cord tissue. Both the cord blood and tissue were discarded right after the child birth in previous times, but now it has achieved a life saving status.

If you are an expectant parent, then it is essential to decide whether or not to bank your newborn’s umbilical cord blood and tissue. You have to collect as much information as possible about the cord blood banking and its benefits. More than just defining what is cord tissue or what cord blood is, you should figure out how it will prove beneficial in protecting your family’s long-term health. Searching over the web pages or having a brief discussion with your doctor will help you in collecting all the necessary information. Once you have realised about the value of saving your newborn’s cord blood, then it is time to decide whether to bank it or donate it. You have to choose between private and public umbilical cord blood banks.

Storing your baby’s cord blood at a private umbilical cord blood bank has several set of advantages, especially if your family has any sort of genetically inherited disorders or ailments. The cord blood you stored at the private bank can be used for your child or it can also  be a close match for any of your family member if he or she ever needs it for stem cell transplants or therapeutic treatments. However, expectant parents who can’t afford the high cord blood pricing or simply don’t want to bank it can think about donating the cord blood to public banks. Umbilical cord blood donated to the public banks will be either used for life-saving transplants or medical research purpose. No matter whether you decide to bank it or donate it, make it a point to check with your doctor for the availability of medical facilities.

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Private and Public Umbilical Cord Blood Banks

Is Saving Baby Cord Blood a Wise Decision?

Cord blood is the blood left in the placenta and umbilical cord after the child birth. Umbilical cord blood and placenta which was  considered as a medical waste in the past has now turned out to be a life-saving resource. As per the researchers and scientists, cord blood (CB) contains stem cells that can be used for transplants and stem cell research. What is stem cell research and why CB holds significance? Scientists are interested in stem cells because of its self-renewal capacity and other remarkable features. Stem cells with their powerful regenerating capacity have  the potential to cure various life-threatening disorders. And that is the exact reason why many expectant parents are saving baby cord blood these days.

Umbilical cord blood which mainly consist of Hematopoietic stem cell or blood forming cells proves to be a great alternative to bone marrow transplant. Not just the cord blood, but umbilical cord tissue banking also holds prominence as it contains Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). Clinical trials are underway exploring the potential applications of MSCs in treating cartilage damage, spinal cord injury and more.

Coming back to the CB applications, have you ever thought why cord blood is a better alternative over bone marrow for stem cell transplant? Here are some points that explain the reasons.

1. Collection of CB and umbilical cord tissue banking is a non-invasive and painless procedure. Bone marrow stem cell collection on the other hand is an invasive method that is performed in a surgical setting.
2. Cord blood units are stored in specifically designed freezers and can be used for transplants even after years. But bone marrow needs to be used fresh as it possess less shelf life. That is why saving baby cord blood provides you a long term health assurance.
3. It is difficult to find the right bone marrow donor, while cord blood match is easier to find because of the greater Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) compatibility.

Umbilical cord blood is also used for treating ischemic vascular disease, metabolic storage diseases, hemoglobinopathies, malignant disease, neurological disorders and more.

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Why You Should Opt for Umbilical Cord Tissue Banking?

3 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Family Cord Blood Bank

Cord blood banking has been gaining immense popularity these days. This new trend in the medical community that promises lifetime health protection of a child has caught the attention of most expectant parents.  Umbilical cord blood and tissue collected after the child birth contains stem cells which has the incredible potential to treat several diseases. With more and more people realising the remarkable benefits of stem cell research and treatments, the number of parents opting for cord blood banking are increasing.

So, if you have decided to bank the cord blood, here are some tips to help you out. Go ahead and take a look at the following points to get a better insight.

1. Do your research: Spend enough time to do some research regarding the importance of storingcord blood (CB) and umbilical cord tissue. You can’t rush to a decision when it is about banking the CB. So start planning ahead of time. Talk with your family and friends. Moreover, decide whether to choose the public or private banking option. If you wish to donate the cord blood, go for the public banking service; choose a private family cord banking facility to store the CB for your own future purpose.
2. Review the options: List out the names of private or public cord banks in and around your locality. The next step is to do a background check so that you can find more information regarding their reputation and service quality. Does the bank function in compliance with the FDA or AABB rules and regulations? Is the bank accredited? Always make it a point to check whether they follow stringent quality assurance techniques when processing and storing umbilical cord tissue and blood.
3. Questions: Have a discussion with the medical team of the bank that offers family cord banking. Enquire about their CB collection and processing methods. Is the bank equipped with latest technologies to store the cord blood and tissue? Have they facilitated any successful transplants? Find as much information as possible.

Above all, talk with your physician for availing recommendations. Not only will they make you understand about the undeniable benefits of stem cell research, but also guide you in taking an informed decision.

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3 Tips to Help You Choose Family Cord Blood Bank

What is Benefit of Cord Blood Banking For Your Family?

Stem cell treatment has been a controversial topic over the last decade. Advanced stem cell research findings have been offering a promising approach to revolutionise the future of medicine. Why the medical community thinks stem cells have the potential to treat serious diseases affecting the world? Unique properties of these master cells make it a limitless internal repair system. Self renewal, differentiation and unspecialized nature are some of the noteworthy features. Sources of stem cells include embryos, adult tissues and amniotic fluid. While embryonic stem cell research has been surrounded by ethical arguments and debates, scientists are successful in using the umbilical cord blood stem cells for transplants.

With the recent findings about the benefits of baby’s umbilical cord blood, researchers have been encouraging the medical community and parents to bank it. Cord blood that is collected immediately after child birth is rich with stem cells. The process of extracting and preserving the extra blood found in umbilical cord and placenta is termed as umbilical cord blood banking. Amount of stem cells found in cord blood is much higher than those found in the bone marrow, which make it a perfect choice for transplants.  Moreover, harvesting the cord blood or tissue poses no risks as it neither hurts the mother nor the newborn. Nowadays, many parents are saving their child’s cord blood and valuable cord blood tissues with a long-term vision.

Private and public umbilical cord blood banking are available. Storing of cord blood may cost some dollars. However, parents can even think about donating the cord blood which may be a life-saving solution for transplant patients. Both the cord blood and cord tissue is enriched with stem cells, but they function differently. Cord blood contains Hematopoietic stem cells which develop into blood-related cells in body, while the umbilical cord blood tissues contain Mesenchymal stem cells which develop into structural and connective tissues. Both the stem cells are subjected to different clinical trials and holds the promise of curing several diseases such as spinal cord injury, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s’ disease, Alzheimer’s , lung disease, arthritis and organ failure. So think about taking the advantages of ongoing medical discoveries and opt for cord blood banking.

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Why You Should Consider Banking Cord Blood?

Secure Your Baby’s Health through Stem Cell Banking

Is it really possible to secure any bodies life? In the past, we could just not even think about it, but with the introduction of umbilical cord therapy, we can now secure the lives of our children’s and loved ones. Modern stem cell banking helps in securing your children’s health against critical medical conditions, provided you store your baby’s naval cord blood at an authentic cord blood bank. CariCord is one of the leading modern stem cell banking companies that offers quality processes for preserving your baby’s precious cord tissues.

CariCord is one amongst the five private family cord blood banks that has got FDA (Food and Drug Administration) accreditation as well as AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) certification.  CariCord follows quality processes that are set forth by AABB. Though CariCord is a private family cord blood bank, it provides quality services at affordable rates. Once you submit   your child’s naval cord blood at CariCord, utmost care is taken for preserving this natural umbilical cord blood. CariCord is fully equipped with the latest tools and technologies like transplanting stem cells into new cells and more.

While preserving the natural umbilical cord tissue for longer period of time, there are chances of it losing its originality. At CariCord, we preserve the natural umbilical cord blood in cryogenic condition at 196 degree centigrade so as to maintain its originality. The umbilical cord blood therapy helps in providing  full security  to your  children’s, siblings and the family members from against more than 80 life threatening  diseases like blood disorders, cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, diabetes, genetic and immunodeficiency diseases and many more. We at CariCord are pledged to provide our customers with round the clock assistance with quality services in order to secure the precious lives of your loved ones. CariCord is always available to assist you in making utmost use of the awesome gift by medical science; the umbilical cord therapy. Make your loved ones live a worry-free healthy life by securing your families’ cord tissues at CariCord.

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Do You Want to Preserve Umbilical Cord Tissue?