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How are stem cells used?

Cord blood stem cells are easy to collect at the time of birth and can be cryopreserved and stored in a viable state indefinitely for future use.

Since the late 1980s, cord blood stem cells have been used to regenerate blood and immune cells for patients who undergo chemotherapy for cancer diseases. These diseases had previously only been able to be treated with bone marrow transplantation. Today, cord blood stem cells are successfully being used and saving many lives.

Cord blood stem cells are increasingly becoming regarded as a viable alternative to stem cells from adults and children in reconstituting diseased or depleted bone marrow. This may occur in conditions such as leukaemia, life threatening blood and immune system disorders, and after extensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

“Cord blood transplantation is widely accepted for use in the paediatric transplant community.” “Umbilical cord blood has been used successfully in related transplants for both malignant and non-malignant diseases.” Ballen 2005(2)

Thankfully, the chances of your baby developing any of these conditions are small, but should your child ever require a transplant of stem cells to treat a specific illness, finding a compatible donor can take valuable time or at times be unsuccessful – however, the cells we store from your baby are immediately available and are a perfect match.

Many parents see the storage of their baby’s cord blood as a worthwhile investment for potential future treatment of diseases in children or adults. The knowledge that their child’s stem cells are stored and readily available gives enormous peace of mind and makes the decision to store their baby’s cord blood a highly satisfying one.