July is
the umbilical cord blood awareness month, and it's the perfect
time to learn more about cord blood and biological products
regulated by
the food and Drug Administration (Administration
FDA). Umbilical cord blood is present in the blood
vessels of the placenta and the umbilical cord
and is collected immediately after the child's
birth and cut the umbilical cord; an important detail.
"Given that umbilical
cord blood is usually collected after
birth and after having cutthe cable, the surgery tends
to be safe for both mother and
baby," says Dr. Keith Wonnacott, PhD, Chief of
the branch of cellular therapies of cellular
therapies, tissuesand genetics, FDA Office.
Information about the
storage of umbilical cord blood
After getting the
cord blood, freezes and can be safely stored for many
years. "The freezing process-called
' cryopreservation '-it is very important to preserve the
integrity of the cells," says Dr. Wonnacott. "The umbilical
cord must be carefully preserved."
Blood from the
umbilical cord of the child can be stored in a private
bank, so that itis available if your child-or with first or
second degree relatives-the future need. Private cord
blood banks tend to pay for the collection and
storage of blood.
Alternatively, the
blood can donate to a public bank so that doctors can
use to treat patients who need transplants of Scrubs.
The FDA
regulates the umbilical cord blood in different ways, depending
on their origin, level of processing and established use.
Umbilical cord
blood stored for personal use in the first or second
degree relatives and also meet other
requirements of FDA regulations, does not require its
approval organization before being used. Even
so, the private banks must
meet FDA requirements, including those that
require them to
register and join ads, have updated
rules regarding the correct use of fabrics and
perform tests and analysis of infectious diseases in their
patients (except when the original donor's cord blood will
be used). These requirements of the FDA ensures the safety of
these products in order to minimize the risk of contamination
and the transmission of infectious diseases.
The cord
blood that is stored to treat
patients without kinship with the donor is entitled
to be considered a
"drug" and a "biological product". Umbilical
cord blood in this category will have to meet
additional requirements to be authorized according
to a biological license application and
subject searching for new drug application before
being able to be used. FDA requirements help ensure the
safety and efficacy of products to their intended uses.
Not all units of
cord blood meets the requirements necessary to be able to
store ina public
bank, adds Safa K, M.T., an FDA consumer
safety officer. If this happens, part of this cord
blood Donated can be used for non-clinical research.
Tips
for consumers
If considering donating to
a cord blood bank, it is important to study the various
options during pregnancy to have enough time to make a
decision before the birth of the child. If you would like to
donate to a public bank, ask if the Hospital
where bearparticipates in a program of umbilical cord
blood storage.
If you have any
questions about the risks and the procedures that are
followed to obtain blood, or about the donation
process, please ask your doctor.
The FDA also
offers a database that can be accessed with information
about registered cord blood banks.
Does not
create any statements that say that umbilical cord blood
is a miracle cure;This is not. Some parents may wish to
consider the possibility of using a private
bank as an "insurance" against diseases that
may arise in the future. But it's important to remember
that, currently, the only approved use of umbilical cord blood is
the treatment of blood diseases (blood diseases).
It's also important to
know, in some cases, the cord blood stored maybe not
adequate for the baby who donated it. "For example, it
is not possible to cure some diseases or genetic
defects with umbilical cord blood that contains the same
disease or defect"
Umbilical cord blood
Umbilical cord
blood (also called cord blood) is the blood that
remains in the umbilical cord and placenta, once your
baby is born and is cut the cable. The umbilical cord
is what connects your child with the placenta. The
placenta grows into your uterus(womb) and provides food and
oxygen to the baby through the umbilical cord.
The umbilical
cord contains stem cells. These are the cells that can
develop into specific types of cells in your body. Stem
cells can be used to treat certain diseases,
such as certain forms of cancer and
anemia. Anemia occurs when you don't have enough healthy
red blood cells in the blood to carry oxygen to the rest of
your body.
Sometimes the
cord blood is discarded along with the umbilical cord and
placenta after childbirth. But some people want to save
or donate blood from the cord (on a Bank of umbilical cord
blood) so that you can use later to cure diseases.
How stem
cells are used to treat diseases?
In most
healthy people, the bone marrow produces stem
cells. Bone marrow is the soft fatty tissue inside the
bones. But sometimes a person's bone marrow stops working
and does not produce enough healthy stem cells. For
people with diseases such as cancer, certain
treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy can
kill healthy stem cells.
If a person needs
new stem cells, you can become a blood stem cell
transplant cordblood or common. Or maybe you can
try a bone marrow transplant. The new stem
cells transplantation can begin to produce healthy new
cells.
You have options
to save your baby's cord blood?
If
you do save your baby's cord blood bank, talk with
your medical professional. You have two main options:
Donate
to a public cord blood bank. For most
families, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends
that donate cord blood to a public Bank of
blood. This donation is used for research or to help
others. You don't pay for the donation. If you or a family
member once need of umbilical cord blood, you can
use that donated. But maybe you can use the cord
blood donated by other people. The national bone
marrow donor program "Be the
Match" (be compatible donor) helps families find cord
blood, if they need it. Umbilical cord blood banks participating
in this program. Food and Drug Administration oversees all public cord blood
banks. This means that all these public banks must adhere
to the same rules and safety measures to collect and
store umbilical cord blood. The law on stem cell research and therapy (therapeutic stem
cells and Research Act) helps to be stored more cord
blood in public banksof blood. That law assists public
banks to store more umbilical cord blood and to
achieve compatibility for more patients.
Store
in a private cord blood bank. You can keep your
child's umbilical cord blood in a private bank in the
event that your child or any family member you
need ever. This can be a good option if you have a
child or a family
with a health disorder that perhaps should be treated
with a stem cell transplant. Depending on the Bank you
choose, it costs about $ 2,000,
plus approx $ 125 annual. The chances of your
child ora family member should use the umbilical cord ever
stored are very low: about 1 ofevery 2700. Private
banks must register with the FDA, but are not required
to followthe same rules and safety for public banks. It is
possible that these institutions will try to convince
parents that keep blood from your
baby's cord, because one day you will need. As mentioned
before, the chances that must use your child's cord
blood are very low.
If you decide not
to donate, or save your baby's cord
blood, he cast off after the birth of his son.
What are the
benefits of stem cells from umbilical cord blood?
Cord blood stem
cells may offer additional benefits in comparison with
those of the blood or bone marrow. These include:
Safe and
easy collection. The collection of stem cells from
umbilical cord blood doesn't mean risks for you or your
child. But to donate bone marrow, you should have a
procedure under anesthesia. Anesthesia is a drug
that reduces or prevents the pain.You may feel some
pain after the procedure and there is a small risk of
complications. If you donate blood stem
cells, must give multiple injections. That can cause
pain in the bones, muscle pain or other side effects.
Increased compatibility. Of bone
marrow or blood stem cell transplant, must be
a nearly perfect compatibility of certain proteins of the
donor and the person receivingthe stem cells. It can be difficult
to find the right compatibility. Stem cells from umbilical
cord blood can take effect, although some proteins may
not be compatible. This means that maybe more people
can find compatibility with umbilical cord blood.
Ready to
use. Cord blood doesn't need much processing time. Once you
reach the Bank of umbilical cord blood, is ready to
go pretty quickly. With bone marrow, takes time to
find a donor who is compatible and a champion.
Best chance of a
successful transplant. People with transplants of stem
cells from umbilical cord blood are less likely to
have problems or infections after transplant than those
who have bone marrow transplants. Some studies suggest that
stem cells from umbilical cord blood can create more
blood back to the bone marrow.
There are
some disadvantages of using stem cells from umbilical cord
blood. The umbilical cord contains a small amount of
blood. Sometimes it is not enough for a stem cell
transplant for an older child or an
adult. Moreover, umbilical cord blood stem cells can
take longer to start producing blood cells to stem cells
from bone marrow.
When
deciding whether to save your baby's cord blood?
It is best to
talk with your health care
professional about 28 to 34 weeks of
pregnancy of their options for cord blood. In this
way, you will have enough time to discover the different cord blood
banks.
Include the
decision on the umbilical cord in your birth
plan. The birth plan is a set of
instructions that they give you on the birth of your
baby. You can include details such as where do you want to
have your child and which person you want to be with you during
labor and birth. The plan for the March of
Dimes birth include a question about preservation of
umbilical cord blood.
Not all
hospitals allow you to donate umbilical cord
blood to a public bank. Visit the national marrow
donor Program to see the list of hospitals (English
site) which allow it.
How do the
umbilical cord blood collected?
If you choose to
store your child's umbilical cord blood, your
practitioner will be collected immediately after the birth
of his son. There is no difference if you have a vaginal
birth or c-section. Caesarean section is an operation in
which the child is born by a court that the
doctor has in the abdomen and uterus.
The health
professional usually uses the tools collection
set that takes care of the cord blood bank. To
collect the cord blood, professional place a clamp on
one side of the umbilical cord and use a needle to draw
blood. The blood is collected in a bag and is
then sent to the Bank of umbilical cord blood.
What types
of health disorders can be treated with stem cells?
Each year in
the United States more than 10000 people are diagnosed
with illnessespossibly mortals who can be treated with a
stem cell transplant. These conditions include the following:
Types
of blood, such as leukemia and Lymphoma cancer
Bone marrow
diseases such as Fanconi anemia
Some anemias, such
as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia
Some problems of
the immune system, such as severe combined immunodeficiency(SCID)
Metabolism
problems inherited, as Hurler and leukodystrophies
Scientists
are studying whether cord blood may be used to treat other
diseases andhealth disorders, such as cerebral palsy, traumatic
brain injury, diabetes and Parkinson's disease
How is the
preservation of umbilical cord blood in a "family" or the private
bank?
Famiilares of
umbilical cord blood or private banks a fee for collecting,
processing, freezing, and save your baby's cord blood, rich
in stem cells for future use doctor in your family.
Family cord blood
bank are the only means that he has a family to
save blood from the umbilical cord of their
baby exclusively for their own use (Unlike public
banks, cord blood donations which are available to
anyone who needs them, anywhere in the world.)
If you read
English, you will find information about the
different family banks around the world on
the Foundation's website parent's Guide to cord
blood (parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation).
Look for more
information about how to collect and use the cord
blood, read our article introduction to preservation of
umbilical cord blood.
How much does it
cost to store umbilical cord blood in a family Bank?
Family cord blood
bank to pay an initial fee ranging from
about 1400 to 2300 dollars, in addition to
an annual fee between 115 and retention costs 150 dollars. Banks
offer payment plans ranging from monthly interest free
financing to long term.
There is a new
trend among these banks offer one low
price that includes all costs of preparation and
storage of blood from the
cord for 20 years. In the long run, this
option is cheaper than traditional annual payments.
Although it may
seem quite expensive, the cost of preparation and
storage of umbilical blood through the freezing is
high. Public banks also argue that the cost of
collection, analysis, processing and storing stem
cells cord blood
reaches between 1500and 2,000 for cord
blood units.
When you
compare the different banks and costs, consider the following:
Some banks
offer discounts if you buy in advance a longer storage
period (5, 10 or20 years, for example).
Some
banks include the cost of base value
for special shipments of medical content, while in other
cases, the cost is extra.
Some banks
offer discounts for parents who have stored the blood
of more than one child. It is also common to offer discounts
to military and emergency services staff.
The final price
is almost always less than the official price, since
it is common for banks to offer discounts and special
offers for a limited time ". You will find
these discount coupons for banks at BabyCenter and on
the Foundation's website guide for parents about umbilical cord
blood (parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation).
The quality
of the more expensive cord blood bank services is
better?
Yes, they
say that the most expensive family banks, with the
argument that quality is directly related to the price. It
says ' No ', the cheapest, who argue that they
operatewith a lower profit margin.
A most
convenient Bank couldn't do things the best way
possible, for example, does not provide a good thermal containers for
shipment of the sample, which provides cell survival during
transport. Or you can simply invest less in advertising
and transfer those savings to their customers. This price does
not always determine the quality.
Can
I store cord blood from my
baby for my family use without paying anything?
Yes, but only if
someone in your family is suffering from some diseases
that could be treated with cells from your baby. Your
family's financial situation does not affectyour
eligibility for these programs.
Many family
cord blood banks organized beneficial programs that
offer free storageof cord blood, when there is a family
member, if you are a parent, sibling
or child self, with a medical condition
that requires treatment with stem cells. You can ask
your doctor to complete a document about your medical
history to let you accept in such programs. You will
find more information (in English) on "assistance for needy
families" the Foundation's Guide for
parents on umbilical cord blood.
Currently, there
are no funds from the Government for any of these programs, and
are offered at the discretion of each bank
as its funding and based on its partnerships
with charitable organizations to support patients with
certain illnesses. These programs are subject to change, if you
think you'll need, it is important that you
investigate them as soon as possible during your pregnancy.
Can also qualify
for free cord blood banking services if your child is
diagnosed before birth a disease that qualify to
participate in clinical trials. For example, if diagnosed the
child Hydrocephalus or a congenital problem in the heart before
he was born, there are programs that allow you to travel to a specialist
hospital to give birth to your baby. We collect their cord blood at
birth and provide adequate medical care.
If you have any
questions about the eligibility requirements for these programs, you
can email the Foundation for parents the umbilical
cord blood of a: info@ParentsGuideCordBlood.org. The
Foundation has a panel of medical advisers who respond
toquestions about medical conditions, very rare and experimental therapies.
How long can my
child's blood stem cells be stored?
Many parents wonder
whether their child's umbilical cord stem cells remain
viable when your child is older. Scientists claim that has
preserved through freezing cells have no expiration date
and blood preserved in this manner should be kept in
good condition for several decades.
The scientist responsible
for the development of cord blood banking methods has
confirmed that some of the first samples frozen over 23 years
ago remain powerful as fresh cord blood.
It is more important
to save the cord blood in my family, there are some
medical conditions?
The decision to
keep the baby's cord blood is something that could benefit
from any family. But if there is a history of leukemia,
lymphoma, anemia, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, immune system
disorders, metabolic storage diseases or other similar
conditions in your family, the probability that someone in your
family needs a stem cell transplant is higher than in the
rest of the population. In that case, keep your baby's cord
blood in a family Bank is something that will give you greater
peace of mind.
If you want to
analyze the probability that your child has one of these
diseases, ask your doctor which refer to a genetic
Counsellor.
Another factor to consider in
the decision to keep the cord blood bank in a family are complications
of pregnancy that took her mother. Any medical condition
that might cause a premature birth increases the
probability that the child can develop some health problems affecting premature
infants. Studies in the treatment of many of these management
issues to the children's own cord blood is currently underway.
For example, the
incidence of cerebral palsy is 10 times higher in premature
babies that at the end, so the ability to store the cord
blood may be more valuable for mothers who have a higher
risk of giving birth prematurely. (By the way, premature
infants are so small that the amount of cord blood collected is
not enough to donate to a public bank).
Because the
potential benefits of premature newborns and other neonates with umbilical
cord complications at birth are that many, some
hospitals are carrying out the pilots of programs through
which free storage of cord blood services to parents of
all children who get an Apgar score low birth weight.
If I keep the
cable from one of my blood of children, will be enough
for the whole family?
If you decide to keep your
baby's cord blood in a family Bank and plan to have more children, you
should take into consideration in order to preserve the
blood of each of your children. Many more units of cord
blood, the more likely one of the samples is compatible with the
family member who needs it.
Additional resources
for cord blood banking
If you want to learn
more about cord blood and how it can save your life, read
our article on introduction to preservation of umbilical cord
blood. You will find us from defining what is umbilical
cord blood for the reasons why parents decide to keep
it.Also read the articles on how to donate the umbilical
cord blood and more.
