Stem Cells Umbilical Blood
As many people have heard by now a child’s umbilical cord can contain a large quantity of multipotent stem cells capable of being cultivated into a number of different tissues. These cells, though partially differentiated to the developing child and thus losing their totipotent or pluripotent characteristics, still have the potential to be used in both effective treatment for the child as it develops to generate treatments or cures to ailments with virtually no risk of rejection. Additionally due to the genetic similarity between a child and its family members mean that the blood could potentially even be used to assist with the medical treatment of close family members should they need assistance as well.
Because of the versatility of the stem cells umbilical cord contains many doctors are beginning to recommend parents actually collect and store the umbilical cord from birth in order to be used later on down the line. Private blood collection and storage can actually be purchased by expecting families today for anywhere from $1000 to $2000 initially with a yearly maintenance fee of around $100 to ensure the blood retains its usefulness. Alternatively families may also store their child’s umbilical cord blood in a public blood bank for free, however chances are that over the years the blood may be used by some other patient that could use the blood for a treatment of their own and therefore not allow for the blood to be available should you need it.
As treatments continue to improve over the years and become more and more diverse and effective it is expected that the potential for umbilical cord blood to grow exponentially over time. Given that storage methods can generally maintain blood viability for decades this is generating a growing public awareness and focus on the potential benefits storage can bring about, especially knowing that there is roughly a 1 in 2,700 chance that the child will need a treatment from their own umbilical cord blood sometime in their life based on global health care statistics, with a proportionally higher chance that other family members may require it as well.
Should parents be expecting and wish to preserve their child’s umbilical cord blood be sure to ask your attending health care professional for options available to you in your area. Many doctors are beginning to offer this option without prompting, however if yours does not do not feel afraid to approach them with the request in order to explore all options available to you.
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