After a baby is born, the umbilical cord and placenta are no longer needed and are usually discarded. However, the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta is rich with blood-forming cells. (These are not embryonic stem cells.) By collecting and freezing this blood, the healthy blood-forming cells can be stored and may later be used by a patient who needs them.
Patients with leukemia, lymphoma or certain inherited metabolic or immune system disorders have diseased blood-forming cells. For some patients, a cord blood or bone marrow transplant (also called a BMT) may be their best treatment option.
Learn how umbilical cord blood may be able to help a patient in need.
- The Need for More Cord Blood Donations – Find out why cord blood can be especially promising for patients of racially or ethnically diverse backgrounds and for patients needing a transplant quickly.
- Options for Umbilical Cord Blood Banking and Donation – As expectant parents, learn how umbilical cord blood can help others through public donation, family (private) cord blood banking, directed donation for a family member, or research studies.
