Information and Resources For Health Visitors and Healthcare Professionals

In association with

Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking

What are Stem cells?
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells throughout life. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of haemopoietic stem cells (HPCs) and, multipotent MPCs. In fact, cord blood has a significantly higher concentration per volume of primitive HPCs than bone marrow, thereby making it a good source of cells for transplantation.

Uses for stem cells
The first successful cord blood stem cell transplant was carried out by Dr. E. Gluckman on a 5 year old boy with Fanconi’s Anaemia. He was given a 0% chance of survival. The cord blood was collected from his newborn sister. The procedure was carried out in Paris, the boy made a full recovery and he is alive and well today.

Since then, the number of transplants of HPCs derived from cord blood has increased to over 10000. Numerous reports document the feasibility and efficacy of the transplantation of cord blood stem cells for the treatment of a broad range of disorders as part of what is now standard medical practice. Disorders that benefit from the use of stem cells include haematological malignancies, solid tumours, constitutional and acquired bone marrow failure syndromes, hemoglobinopathies, congenital immune deficiencies, and inherited disorders of metabolism.

Although the chances of using stem cells are still comparatively low, it has become more likely over the past few years. In 1997 the probability of autologous usage was estimated to be 1 in 2700. A study in 2004 estimated it to be 1 in 400 during a lifetime. If allogeneic use within the family is taken into consideration then the probability is almost doubled. Many factors affect the parents’ decision to bank their child’s cord blood; some common reasons are listed below:

1. There is a family history of one or more of the diseases that use stem cells as a treatment.
2. The parents are from a mixed ethnic background. Research has shown that finding a match for this group is very difficult.
   

However, the most important reason is probably the fact that parents see cord blood stem cells as a valuable resource for the future. They have a real belief in the research findings published to date and think that these potential applications may be of benefit to the baby or other biological family members in the future

The procedure
Parents who choose to collect and save their babies cord blood will approach their midwife and ask for help and guidance. Obstetricians, midwives and nurses are already familiar with taking cord blood samples following birth. The cord blood is taken using Aseptic Technique to prevent contamination of the sample. All necessary equipment for the collection is included in the kit that the parents will bring with them to the delivery room.

There are two methods that can be used:

1. Immediately after the cord is clamped and cut with the placenta still in utero
2. After delivery of the placenta
   

Both yield comparable volumes of cord blood stem cells. It is up to the healthcare professional’s clinical judgment when to choose to collect the cord blood.

Future Health Technologies Ltd
Future Health Technologies is fully accredited by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the UK Department of Health (0083/00/00/0-04) and licensed by the Human Tissue Authority. This accreditation also meets the guidelines set by the newer EU Directives which were implemented in April 2006. This means that everything, from the collection methodology, through to our laboratory processes and storage facilities have been rigorously inspected and fully approved.