Many debates have sprung up on cord blood banking in relation to its supposed significance and medical benefit, with the pros and cons to the issue. These debates are well represented by its accusers and defenders. Cord blood banking process immediately starts after the birth of a newborn child; the residual blood is collected from the umbilical cord and the placenta and placed in sterilized, sealed containers. It is a simple and safe procedure that poses no health risks to both mother and child. Cord blood can be collected both from normal and caesarian birth deliveries.Upon collection, the cord blood is frozen, stored and kept in liquid nitrogen with a temperature of negative 196. Celsius (-196 C). The preserved cord blood has a shelf life of up to 15 years in which in can still be usable for transplantation. But before freezing and storage, the cord blood units must be thoroughly screened and checked for any signs of infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis among others.As cord blood banking is relatively new, which started in 1995, conclusive proof as to its medical beneficial use is still to be widely proven. But as proof of its growing popularity, many blood cord banks have been created especially in Europe and the Americas. Though the years a sizable increase in the number of couples banking their child’s cord blood was noted. The trend in turn churned out numerous cord blood banking companies into fore. Before there were simple blood banks, now it’s saving with a difference. Cord Blood Banking, it’s the wave of the future! Cord blood banking has two kinds: private and public cord banks. Around 75%25 of the total cord blood banks found worldwide are public or non-profit which are for public service and survive through donations. Numerous public blood cord banks accept donations for use by the needing public; donated cord blood though is lost to the original blood source forever.On the other hand, private blood cord banks, which comprise 25%25 of the total cord blood banks, charge more or less $2,000.00 to bank cord blood for their customers’ private use.Cord blood banks number around 100 to date worldwide, mostly in Europe , USA and Canada. A few exist in Asia and Australia and none in Africa. It is easier for white patients to avail of cord blood in banks compared with blacks or Asians since most cord blood banks are in Western countries.The cord blood banks have set up a network wherein they communicate and at the same time exchange blood samples. Through a system of cooperation, they enhance their network’s system of donors and recipients. Due to the increasing proliferation of cord blood banks in Europe and the Americans, many sectors have called for government regulation and monitoring for strict compliance of safety and preservation methods on the same level as with traditional blood banks.For the public safety, national and federal government regulators should consider drafting and creating the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) when it comes to cord blood bank operations. Legislation, regulation and monitoring are needed at the soonest possible time to assure quality safety standards in existing and in future blood cord banks. Cord Blood Banking is definitely the wave of the future. Saving with a difference. For more information on cord blood banking, please visit Blood Cord Bank.

Hope is a freelance journalist who writes just about anything - from health topics , technology to online gaming.

Cord Blood

Cord Blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. Cord Blood is routinely discarded with the placenta and umbilical cord. The blood in the cord is a rich source of stem cells. Stem cells are the building blocks of your blood and immune system. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into other types of cells in the body, and thus give rise to all the tissues, organs and systems in the body. The stems cells in a child’s cord blood are genetically unique to the baby and its biological family.

Due to stem cells ability to differentiate into other types of cell tissue in the body, treatments can be developed for diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Diabetes to name a few. Stem cells found in the cord blood are a valuable biological resource that researchers can use to investigate the potential of future applications for cord blood stem cells.

Cord Blood Banking

Cord Blood Banking is the process whereby umbilical cord blood stem cells are saved for potential medical uses. Cord blood banking includes the processes of collection, processing and storing of the umbilical cord blood. Collection involves drawing the cord blood from the umbilical cord, using either the syringe or bag collection method, after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut. Processing involves the testing of the cord blood to determine whether it meets eligibility standards and removing and red blood cells or plasma that will not be needed in transplantation. Storage involves storing the cord blood unit in a vinyl or plastic bag in which it is frozen in liquid nitrogen.

There are two types of cord blood banks. Firstly there are the family banks, which store the umbilical cord for one’s own family use. Secondly, there are the public donor banks, which store the umbilical cord blood for unrelated or non-family use - which is public use. Every parent has the option of saving their baby’s cord blood for their family use, while only a small number of people may be able to donate their baby’s cord blood stem cells.

Cord Blood Stem Cells

There are three sources of stem cells: bone marrow, peripheral blood (that is the blood that circulates through the body) and umbilical cord blood. Cord blood stem cells, however, are different from other types of stem cells. By freezing these cells, any aging or damage to these cells is prevented, that usually occurs later in life. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are also more proliferate than adult stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at %2526lt;a href=”http://www.lifestyle-health-news.com”%2526gt;Lifestyle Health News and %2526lt;a href=”http://www.medical-health-news.com”%2526gt;Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on topical health matters.

New Blood for New LIfe When blood cord banking came into existence, hope for new medical possibilities came to be. An alternative has been opened, a new, better choice for our health needs. Blood cord banking or cord blood banking is a relatively new addition in the medical realm. Blood cord banking is the process of preserving blood from a new born baby’s umbilical cord and placenta. The concept of blood cord banking starts immediately as soon as a mother gives birth, the blood in the umbilical cord and placenta is immediately preserved through freezing and kept in a depository until such time in the future as when that same baby, all grown up, will be needing, if ever, a transplant of the bone marrow or for treatment of leukemia or Fanconi’s Anemia. As the blood cord banking concept is still in its infancy stage, starting just in the mid 90s, research and studies on the subject have still to positively conclude its full medicinal benefits. Despite of this however, many blood cord banks have come into existence since transplants of umbilical blood cord have been successful in the treatment of diseases of the immune and blood systems. Leukemia and Fanconi’s Anemia are just some of the diseases treated by umbilical cord blood. In Fanconi’s Anemia alone, 2000 patients have undergone this procedure. Formerly viewed as birth medicinal waste, umbilical cord blood due to its high demand, is now a valuable commodity because it is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, progenitor cells that produce red blood cells, it also has white blood cells and platelets. Umbilical cord blood is abundant in blood cells that are proven to restock the bone marrow. It is proven that blood cord is rich in stem cells that rejuvenate the bone marrow. Stem cells form part of our body’s blood and immune system and they have the capability to rejuvenate the other cells in our body’s system thus can be a potent cure versus the dreaded cancer diseases that wreak havoc on man. Blood cord banking is like a new blood for a new life for man. Many parents have started banking their new borne children’s umbilical cord, doubling in number every year. As a result, more and more blood cord banking companies have come into existence. Cord Blood donation is likewise medically safe, posing no risks to the health of the mother and the infant. Collection of the blood cord does not harm you or your baby since the process is done after you have given birth. You as an expectant parent should weigh the choices you have, would you bank your newborn’s cord blood? Or should you not? Do the long term medical benefits that you are even not assured of needing in the future far outweigh the reality of the current high costs of preserving and banking your child’s cord blood? You know, its not remote that scientists researching on its usefulness will discover more cures for cord blood for other diseases. The procedure of collecting cord blood is simple and painless for both you and your infant and likewise there are no health risks involved. There are many public blood cord banks that accept donations for use by the public, donated cord blood is lost to the donor forever. Private, for-profit blood cord banks however charge an average of $2,000.00 to collect and preserve the umbilical cord blood for possible use of the child or family in the future. For more information on cord banking, please visit cord blood stem cell

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