Cord blood has grown in popularity in recent years. And you may have come across facts on it at your local clinic at some stage. Hematopoietic stem cells can be seen in cord blood. These cells can transform into any type of blood cell and can be utilized in transplantation to treat diseases such as blood disorders, immunological inadequacies, metabolic disorders, and some malignancies. More and more techniques to save lives are getting discovered through research.

What Is Cord Blood

Excess blood left in a baby’s placenta and umbilical cord just after the cord gets removed is known as cord blood. After a baby is born, this blood is no longer needed, but it carries cells that could aid people who are unwell now or later.

Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma are all present in cord blood, just as they are in traditional blood.

What Is Cord Blood Storing

Cord blood storage is a harmless and quick operation that potentially saves lives. Cord blood gets extracted from the cut-off umbilical cord shortly after birth.

The blood is then refrigerated and preserved for later use. Cord blood, when properly preserved, can last for more than two decades.

How It Works

Your child’s cord blood is collected and sent to either a public or private blood center, based on your preference.

Contributions of public cord blood are free of charge to the donor and are made accessible to anybody through a national database. However, with public storage, you may not always be able to request your own baby’s cord blood if a member of the family requires it.

Is It Worth It To Preserve Cord Blood?

Cord blood is in high demand. It’s a rich source of stem cells that can be collected from a baby’s umbilical cord right after birth and then used to cure dozens of illnesses, especially numerous types of leukemia, lymphoma, and anemia. The cord blood can get discarded, donated, or stored at a private cord blood center. For a price, corporate cord blood banks keep the blood in case the family needs it in the future.

The cost of cord blood storage in a private setting can be prohibitive. Initial implementation expenses can range from $500 to $2,500, based on the bank, present promotions, and whether you’re preserving cord blood, cord tissues, or even both, with yearly preservation rates of $100 to $300.

If a user has a member of the family who hopes to profit from the stored cells, private banks may eliminate part or all of the charges, though the conditions for eligibility — and the savings — differ from company to company. A contribution to a public bank is tax-deductible.

Benefits & Drawbacks Of Storing Cord Blood

Here’s a quick rundown to help you comprehend it better.

Advantages

• Cord blood can provide stem cells to more individuals than bone marrow. It is because, unlike a bone marrow transplantation, the cord blood would not have to closely resemble the recipient’s blood type.

• During cancer care, cord blood stem cells may help the immune function. Individuals cannot employ bone marrow stem cells in this manner.

• The baby or the person who gave birth is not in danger from cord blood collection.

• Donating cord blood to community cord blood banks may assist in saving other people’s lives.

• Cord blood centers can store and preserve cord blood, making it available for use whenever it is required. Store at an affordable cord blood bank for $19.99/month

Disadvantages

• People must pay a fee to store cord blood in a private corporation, which may be prohibitively expensive.

• People must decide on cord blood donation and make their own choice before labor begins.

• Storing cord blood privately may not be any more successful than having a stranger’s stem cells transplanted.

• The cord blood will not be collected by all clinics for public preservation.

• Cord blood donation is not available to everyone.

People can talk to their doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of public and private banking, specifically if they have a family member who has an illness that could benefit from stem cell therapies.