Research
Saving your child’s cord blood with a private bank is an extremely important decision for every expectant family. Especially if your family’s medical history includes a disease treatable by stem cell transplantation. However, it is also a good idea for families without a history of diseases that are currently being treated at this time. The Cord Blood cells that are saved are the newborn's actual cells and will guarantee a match for your child if one of these diseases occur in the future. In addition, research on umbilical cord blood stem cells are proving that these cells have the capability if placed in the right environment to develop into stem cells from all systems of the human body. So if you agree that these stem cells are your child’s best chance at treating one of these medical conditions, it is highly recommended that you do so with a private bank.
There are approximately 4 million births each year in the United States. Each birth represents the one and only chance to collect the umbilical cord blood stem cells that could cure many diseases including leukemia. Stem cells, present in umbilical cord blood and placenta blood have been a source of cells for umbilical cold blood transplantation (UCBT) since the first case was reported in 1989 in the New England Journal of Medicine in a patient with Fanconi's anemia. Since that time over 10,000 patients had received cord blood transplants, and today over 70 diseases can be treated with cord blood transplantation.