KiwiParent from Parents Center NZ Test Volume | Page 50

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cord

blood
What you need to know
What is cord blood?

other stem cells

Cord blood, or umbilical cord blood, is
the blood that remains in your child’s
umbilical cord following birth. It is
a rich, non-controversial source of
stem cells that can only be collected
at the time of birth.

Umbilical stem cells have a special
property that sets them apart from
adult bone marrow cells – flexibility.
This property makes it easier for
them to adapt to a patients body
during transplant, so the body is less
likely to reject the cells – increasing
the chances of a successful
transplant.

What is cord blood banking?
Cord blood banking is the process
of collecting and storing these
stem cells for future medical use.
CordBank has been providing this
service for New Zealand parents
since 2003.

Why is it important to save
these stem cells?
Stem cells are the building blocks
of life. They are found in the body’s
organs, tissues, blood and immune
system and have the ability to
regenerate into additional stem
cells or differentiate into specialised
cells, such as nerve or blood cells.
This remarkable ability makes them
invaluable in medical treatments.
When transplanted into a patient’s
body, stem cells can repair or replace
the patient’s damaged or diseased
cells, improving the patient’s health,
and in many cases, saving the
patient’s life.

Why are cord blood
stem cells better than

Cord blood stem cells are also young
cells. Every day your cells age and
deteriorate, but cord blood stem
cells are collected and stored and
then frozen in time – so they are as
young and powerful as they were
the day the baby was born.
They are also simple and painless to
collect – unlike the collecting bone
marrow stem cells, which is a risky
and invasive procedure.

What are cord blood stem
cells used for?
As well as many cancers and other
life-threatening diseases, cord
blood stem cells are being used
in regenerative medicine – with
trials underway to treat brain injury,
autism, cerebral palsy, Type 1
diabetes and heart disease.

How likely is it that you will
use your stored cord blood?
It is estimated that one in 3 people

48 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years

may benefit from regenerative
medicine therapy for a range of
illnesses, including stroke, cerebral
palsy, spinal cord injury and type 1
diabetes.

How many people have had
a cord blood transplant?
Since the first transplant in 1988,
over 30,000 people have undergone
a cord blood stem cell transplant.
There are now cord blood banks
all over the world, and already
thousand of New Zealand parents
have banked their children’s cord
blood in case it is needed later now
or later on.

How long do they last?
You only get one chance to save
your baby’s cord blood – at birth.
You need to register with CordBank
during your pregnancy to collect
these precious stem cells.
CordBank is New Zealand’s longest
established and most experienced
cord blood collection, processing
and storage facility. It is licensed by
Medsafe, the regulatory arm of the
Ministry of Health.
Call 0800 CORDBANK, email info@
cordbank.co.nz or visit cordbank.
co.nz to request a free information
kit.