Umbilical cord stem cells are found in the blood of the cord. The cells provide a genetic clone of the child and can separate into limited number of cell types in the body. Storage of this blood once the baby is born can be helpful if a condition arises in the future and the person is in need of a lifeline to maintain existence.
While in the womb the cord connects a fetus to the placenta, which transports blood and nutrients directly to the growing baby. By storing the blood it ensures that medical professionals have the exact genetic make-up for a particular individual if a transplant is needed in the future.
Using cord blood can help to treat many diseases and disorders including sickle cell disease, leukemia, and disorders that effect the metabolism. The blood can be matched to the person of origin or possibly a family member. In some cases it can even be used to help a person who does not have any relation.
Stem units have the ability to completely restore damaged areas of the body. In some cases it can reverse the side effects of some diseases. Most of the time the cord is discarded after birth, but storage of the blood can be a preventative measure or even cure of some diseases or illnesses.
Because there is preparation involved in storing the blood the decision to do so must be made well before the woman gives birth. It is typically too late to make this decision in the labor and delivery room. Once the woman gives birth and the lifeline between her and her child has been cut the blood is then immediately sent to a blood bank where it can be preserved so that it will not be exposed to bacteria. Often this is done before the placenta has passed through the birth canal.
Because the blood is collected after the connection between the mother and child has been cut there is no pain for the child or the woman. Once stored it will be tested for blood type and any infectious diseases. If the results are negative for any illnesses than the red blood is removed and is stored in liquid nitrogen.
There are many advantages to using stem units as a preventative measure. Often times this can replace bone marrow transplants, which can be very painful. If an individual uses their own cells that carry an identical genetic match the chances of recovery from fatal diseases becomes much higher. In addition, using a persons matching stem cells decreases the risk of side effects that can incur from modern day medicine. Another advantage is that there is a good likelihood that there will be a match for an immediate family member if they are ever in need of a transplant.
There is a high cost involved in storage of umbilical cord stem cells. However, the advantages are plentiful especially given the cost that it might take to help a person recover from a disease if they do not have access to their own cells. In addition, banking blood could potentially save the life of an individual who may not be able to afford other means of treatment.
Author Resource:-
We are a cord blood Toronto clinic that specializes in stem cell isolation, cord blood storage and cord blood banking Canada. Specializing in stem cell isolation, we are a cord blood clinic with years in experience in cord blood banking & cord blood storage.
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