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What are the benefits of stem cell banking?
Some advantages of cord blood banking include the following:
- More people can receive stem cells from cord blood than from bone marrow.
- There is less chance of a person’s body rejecting the stem cells from cord blood than from bone marrow.
- Cord blood stem cells may support the immune system during cancer treatments.
How do I choose a stem cell banking company?
You’ll need to compare what’s on offer and find the best fit for your family. If the day comes when one of your children needs the cord blood, you’ll want to feel confident that it was the right choice. It’s a good idea to meet several companies and see what they offer before making the final decision.
What are the risks of umbilical cord stem cells?
Disadvantages of cord blood include:
- there is not enough to treat an adult with one collection.
- once transplanted, no more cells can be harvested from that source.
- cord blood stem cells require more time to graft than bone marrow transplants.
- no nationwide system for collection and storage of donated cord blood.
What is stem cell collection at birth?
Cord blood banking is a process of collecting potentially life-saving stem cells from the umbilical cord and placenta and storing them for future use. Stem cells are immature cells that can assume the form of other cells.
What can stem cells develop into?
By watching stem cells mature into cells in bones, heart muscle, nerves, and other organs and tissue, researchers and doctors may better understand how diseases and conditions develop. Generate healthy cells to replace diseased cells (regenerative medicine).
Can my baby use his own cord blood?
A baby’s own cord blood is always 100\% match for the baby, making an autologous transplant or infusion the preferred method for treating many conditions because the risk of graft-versus-host disease is minimal.
What is the cost of stem cell banking in India?
Family Cord Blood Banking in India
| Name | Laboratory | Initial cost |
|---|---|---|
| Biocell | Babycell, Mumbai | INR 79,000 |
| CordCare India | PathCare Labs, Hyderabad, India | INR 65,000 |
| Cryo Stemcell | Cryo Stemcell, Bangalore | INR 25,000 |
| Indu Stem Cell Bank | Indu Voluntary Blood Bank, Gujarat, India |
Why do parents hesitate to donate their child’s cord blood?
And because of the uncertainty of its necessity and usefulness, many parents hesitate to put down such a sizable amount of money after an already pricey birth. Cord blood banking is an obscure concept to many, so it’s often up to mothers and their partners to initiate the conversation with obstetricians.
How are stem cells harvested from babies?
Shortly after birth, when the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, the cord blood and tissue can easily be collected. The stem cells can then be extracted and cryopreserved, or ‘banked’, for years to come if they are ever needed.