All You Need To Know About Cord Blood Storage
Cord blood storage is done to preserve cord blood intended to be used for various medical procedures. Cord blood is the blood present in the umbilical cord after it is cut. The baby no longer needs this after birth so it is often withdrawn from the cord for storage. Cord blood contains the normal elements present in regular blood such as red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. However, it differs from regular blood in that it contains a larger amount of hematopoietic cells, cells that can give rise to the formation of virtually any kind of cell in the body. These cells are often found in large amounts in the bone marrow, but they are also found in large amounts in cord blood. Because it is rich in hematopoietic cells, it is used in medical experiments that require the use of stem cells. Cord blood presents a less invasive way to collect stem cells, since stem cells from bone marrow need to be collected from the bone marrow of live patients through a very painful and invasive medical procedure.
Cord Blood Storage
Cord blood is stored in cord blood banks, which can be private or public. Cord blood collection is done within ten minutes of the baby’s birth, during which the cord blood is extracted from the fetal end of the cord. The blood is then screened for HIV and Hepatitis B and C and tissue typed before it is processed for cryopreservation. Processing usually involves separating the red blood cells and removing them from the rest of the blood. In other cases, no separation is done and a cryopreservation medium is simply added to allow the cells to survive the cryogenic process, which involves slow and controlled cooling. For a transplant, about 75 ml of cord blood must be extracted. Although there is no research to determine the exact duration during which cord blood remains viable, examination of stored units that have been preserved for 16 years show no signs of deterioration and 13-year old units used in transplants have been shown to perform successfully as newly-drawn cord blood. Cord blood storage is more affordable with the recent advances in technology.
Cord Blood Storage Regulations
In the US, the FDA governs the collection, processing, labeling, and storage of cord blood. Two standards currently being applied are the cGTP (current Good Tissue Practices) and cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices.) All banks providing cord blood storage must comply with the conditions imposed by the cGTP standards for collection, storage and processing. They must also comply with the standards of the cGMP based upon the product that the blood bank is manufacturing. Both public and private cord blood storage systems accept cord blood donations, which undergo strict screening processes before being cleared for storage.
Cord blood storage offers a new and less invasive technology where umbilical cord blood, a rich source of stem cells, can be stored for future medical needs. Cord blood banks provide these services for both public and private clients and are under the control and regulation of the FDA. Compliance with FDA regulations and conditions in cord blood storage ensure the security, safety, and medical viability of cord blood specimens.