Health
Know More About Cord Blood Banking Collection and Storage Procedures
Cord blood plays an important role in treating several types of diseases. The cord tissue is collected after C-section or vaginal birth. It can be stored and processed for future use in the cord blood banks. If you do not store or donate the cord tissue, it is discarded as medical waste.
Studies regarding the stem cells suggest that it has more ability to generate blood cells than the bone marrow. This feature provides lots of opportunities for advancement in medical researches.
Banking procedures and charges
Storing the cord blood is like making an investment for yourself and your family’s health. This body fluid can be frozen and stored in the laboratory for many years. You have to find a suitable cord blood bank that facilitates the collection, testing, and storage procedure. There are many banks offering this operation and you can select them based on the features and cost. It will be a good idea to ask for the help of your friends or any other family members who have gone through this process already.
It would be great if you decide upon an appropriate bank around your second trimester. You will also find it during your early third trimester. Preparing for its storage beforehand will relieve you from all last minute hassles. You can also make use of the online facility, wherein the concerned company will guide you in each and every process associated with donating and banking the cord blood. You can meet the blood storage authorities in person, in order to get a better idea about the whole procedure.
Price is another factor that you have to check before you enroll with the respective bank. Some of them collect both annual storage fees as well as the enrollment fee. It’s best that you can enquire about the procedures and how the sample is stored before agreeing to donate the blood. After the registration process, you will be given a collection kit. All you have to do is take this kit to the hospital where you will be giving birth. It is important to inform the medical team of the hospital about your umbilical cord blood collection.
How it is stored?
Cord blood is termed as a valuable resource and it contains young stem cells. This is used to cure some of the life-threatening diseases. Many people have realized the importance of this and they are ready to donate their baby’s cord blood. The blood is drawn without affecting the mother and baby from the placenta and umbilical cord after birth. This sample promises to protect your family’s health in the future. The collection and storage of blood are quite simple. The parents of the baby have to consider the benefits of banking cord blood. This blood fluid will help in the recovery of your family member if they are diagnosed with any fatal disease.
It is collected with the aid of a medical professional or midwife. Then, the sample is sent by courier to the respective bank. The stem cells have to be frozen for preservation. Once the sample reaches the bank, the staff quickly isolated the stem cells and freeze it. These stem cells are stored in liquid nitrogen. The sample remains in the bank until it is needed for treatment.
Much researches are being conducted in this field and some studies have reported that the samples can be stored for more than 10 years.
Benefits of banking
These stem cells are responsible for enhancing one’s immune system, tissue, blood, and organs. The stem cells present in the blood will protect you in case you are suffering from any illness and requires a transplant. If you want, you could also donate them to organizations that carry out various kinds of researches on it.