Cord Blood Banking and the Medical Community

Not unlike you, the medical community is only beginning to realize the value and benefits of the life saving stem cells found in umbilical cord blood. While the medical community has long known that bone marrow is rich in stem cells, the fact that umbilical cord blood is also rich in stem cells is a much more recent discovery. However, unlike another person's bone marrow, your baby will have a 100% match when you collect your child's cord blood.

Research is continuing to prove that we are just now on the forefront of understanding the potential value of stem cells. In an international review of umbilical cord blood transplants used to treat the baby's parent, sibling, or cousin, nearly two-thirds reached a critical level of survival. That is more than twice the success rate for cord blood transplants from unrelated donors.¹

Further, in their 2001 Year-end Report, the American Heart Association found the discovery that "tissue engineering with bone marrow and cord blood grows heart parts" to be among their "top 10 research advances for 2001." ²

Stem cells, the same cells found in bone marrow and the source of white blood cells, have already been proven to treat many malignant and non-malignant diseases, but with new research, the new treatment potential of stem cells continues to grow. Medical researchers are currently exploring new uses for umbilical cord blood stem cells in conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Heart Attack, Stroke, and Spinal Cord injuries.

What Doctors Are Saying

Your Obstetrician and Gynecologist may still be learning about the uses of stem cells from umbilical cord blood as the research develops. While some have already researched this to better understand the pros and cons of saving baby's cord blood, not every doctor is at the same level of education and understanding.

See what doctors are saying about saving baby's cord blood and about CorCell.

1. Outcome of Cord-Blood Transplants from Related and Unrelated Donors, NEJM, August 7, 1997 Volume 337, Number 6; Clinical Research News for Arizona Physicians, December 1995, www.ahsc.arizona.edu

2. American Heart Association, AHA News 12/31/2001 American Heart Association's Top 10 research advances for 2001, 2001 Year-End Report, http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3000094