A Milestone in Medical Science

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In a world where people are afflicted with a number of incurable diseases finding a cure for them can represent a major milestone in medicine. With advancements in medical science and in the realm of stem cell research, curing debilitating diseases may lead to a better way of life for all of humanity.

One such advance in the sphere of medicine and healthcare can be said to be the discovery of cord blood stem cellsandcord blood. Cord blood is the blood which is derived from the umbilical cord of a new born baby and has a rich supply of stem cells. This cord blood can be used to treat many diseases and may transform into many other stem cell types which are necessary for our body’s survival. In order to save this precious blood, a number of cord blood banks are available where you can store the blood for possibly decades or longer. Cord blood banks start the collection process immediately after the baby is born where the blood which is present in the umbilical cord is collected, processed, tested and stored.

Once you have made up your mind to save your baby’s cord blood, deciding whether to store the baby’s blood in a private family cord blood bank or to donate it to a public cord blood bank can become a major choice. However, if you have opted to store at a private cord blood bank, it is always better to compare cord blood banks to get detailed information about which bank will provide the highest quality and most reliable cord banking service at the best value for your family. Remember to find out the level of expertise of the facility of the cord bank as well as the level of training of the staff. You should inquire about cord bank quality accreditations; cord bank state-of-the-art facility; cord bank longevity; number of cord blood clients; cord blood service features and compare cord banking costs. It is critical to know where your child’s blood is going to be stored before making the final commitment to a particular facility. While comparing cord blood banks, you can also talk to other families and reviewcord bank client testimonials from those who have stored cord blood to learn about their experiences with cord blood banks. Remember it is for your child’s benefit that you compare cord blood banksbecause nothing is more important than your child’s future health and well-being. 

The rich cord blood which contains cord blood stem cells can be used to treat a number of diseases like leukemia, metabolic disorders, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and other genetic immune deficiencies. Researchers have found out that cord blood stem cellsarecapable of treating nearly 80 diseases and conditions. The preservation of cord blood stem cells in cord blood banks is non-invasive and does not impact the mother or the newborn. However, cord blood stem cellswhich are privately preserved for future use include a one-time fee for processing, testing, and cryo-preservation; and a fee for annual storage. Considering the benefits of cord blood, the preservation of cord blood stem cells can be potentially helpful in treating many diseases and as there is heightened education and awareness of cord blood benefits, more and more people will likely opt for the preservation of umbilical cord blood.