What Is Cord Blood? or What Is Umbilical Cord Blood?

Based on queries we are getting, we need make sure it is clear what cord blood actually is.

Cord Blood is short for Umbilical Cord Blood.

Right after the birth of a baby, the umbilical cord cut and usually discarded along with the placenta. Cord Blood is in short the blood and tissue collected from the umbilical cord after it is severed from the baby.

It is now known that this blood is a highly rich source of stem cells. The specific cells that are the most sought after are known as hematopoietic stem cells, which are also found in bone marrow, and are the foundation of the many types of blood cells. These cells further be used to treat various genetic disorders that affect the blood and the immune system.

To date, more than 45 disorders can be treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood. Also, many other treatments are being researched that specifically use cord blood.

There are many commercial companies ramping up to provide services to parents to store their newborn baby’s cord blood, as well as several organizations in place to take donations of Cord Blood.

Finally, there are several congressional level bills pending that involved Cord Blood, one such bill can be found here: Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2003. There are many other State level actions as well.

Will try to gather them and post them here as well.

Posted on March 28, 2005 06:53 PM