If you are a mother or father who is expecting a new baby, you may have heard the term 'Cord Blood Banking'. Simply put, this means that some of the precious blood left over from the umbilical cord and placenta, which is discarded after the baby is born, is taken and stored very safely so that it can be used as a treatment for any medical condition that may arise in the future. This is a hot topic in Sri Lanka right now. So is this really worth it? What are the pros and cons of doing this? How is it done? Let's talk about all this clearly and amicably today.
Why is cord blood so valuable?
Imagine, usually after giving birth, the umbilical cord and placenta are thrown away. But in the blood left in this discarded umbilical cord, there is a special type of cell that has the amazing ability to become any type of cell in our body. We call these stem cells . It's like a blank canvas. Just like we can draw any picture on that canvas, these stem cells can also develop into different types of cells in our body, such as blood cells and immune cells.
These stem cells are similar to the stem cells found in bone marrow. Therefore, they can be used to treat more than 80 life-threatening diseases. According to experts, "Transplants from cord blood have become increasingly important to save the lives of young children, especially those with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), some malignancies, and blood disorders such as leukemia."
Sometimes, cord blood donated in this way is used by researchers to develop and test new medical treatments . This means that even if it doesn't directly benefit a family member, it can make a significant contribution to the advancement of medical science.
What is the difference between public and private banks?
There are two main ways to store cord blood. One is to donate it to a state bank. The other is to store it in a private bank. There are big differences between the two. Let's see what they are.
| Feature | Public Blood Banks | Private Blood Banks |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Completely free . This is a donation. | Very expensive . You have to pay an initial fee and annual maintenance fees. |
| Ownership | The blood sample becomes public property. It is given to any suitable patient in need. | Your family has full ownership of the blood sample. |
| Availability | There is no guarantee that the blood sample you donate will be available to you or your family if you need it. It may have been given to another patient, used for research, or discarded if the quantity is insufficient. | If someone in your family needs it, you can use that sample. |
So, is it really worth depositing in a private bank?
This is the most important question. When you look at the statistics, the chances of a child using their own stem cells are very low, about 1 in 5,000 . That means only one in 5,000 children will have that opportunity.
However, the chance of a child needing donated stem cells is 1 in 2,500 . That means they are about twice as likely to need someone else's than to use their own.
The other issue is whether a sibling can use this blood. There is only a 25% chance that a sibling will have a 100% perfect match. There is also a 25% chance that it will not be a match at all. So it is not guaranteed that a sibling can use this.
An adult, meaning a parent, has even less chance of using this blood, because the amount of blood taken from an umbilical cord is usually not enough for an adult's body.
For these reasons, even the world's leading medical organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics , strongly recommend that it is more appropriate to donate this precious blood to a public bank rather than depositing it privately.
How do you collect this umbilical cord blood?
Whether you're thinking of donating blood or storing it privately, this is something that needs to be planned in advance. You should inform your doctor and hospital well in advance of your delivery and have the necessary collection kit ready.
Many state banks require parents to register between 28 and 34 weeks of pregnancy . They also check the health history of the donor mothers.
During childbirth, this blood can be collected before or after the placenta is delivered. After the baby's umbilical cord is cut and clamped, a doctor or nurse uses a small needle to draw some of the remaining blood from an umbilical vein. This procedure is painless and does not cause any harm to the baby or the mother.
Then, a special courier service takes this blood sample to a blood bank. There, the stem cells are separated from the rest of the blood and stored in liquid nitrogen under cryogenic conditions.
How to choose a suitable cord blood bank?
If you decide to get this service from a private bank, it is very important to research it carefully.
Experts warn against making big, exaggerated claims like "completely curing diseases like cerebral palsy ." Before choosing a bank, be sure to research these facts:
- The company's financial stability: See how long the company has been in business and what their financial records are like.
- The number of samples they process: An institution that handles a larger number of samples usually has better experience and methodology.
- If the company goes out of business: Find out if there is a clear policy on what happens to your samples.
- Information about fees: What are the initial fees and annual maintenance fees? Ask if those fees are fixed or can they increase over time.
- Accreditation: Check if the institution has internationally recognized standards. It is a good sign if it is accredited by organizations such as `FACT` (Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy) and `AABB` (American Association of Blood Banks). All blood banks must be registered with a regulatory agency such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
- Medical Advisory Board: Find out who the doctors are who advise the institution and what their qualifications are.
The most important thing is, don't make any decisions about this alone. Discuss this thoroughly with your obstetrician-gynecologist (VOG) and seek his or her advice.
Take-Home Message
- Stem cells found in cord blood are a very valuable resource that can treat many serious diseases.
- By donating this to a state bank, you can help save the lives of many people in need, at no cost.
- Depositing money in a private bank is very expensive, and the likelihood that one's own child or family member will ever need to use it is very low.
- When choosing a private bank, carefully research their credibility, experience, and international accreditation.
- Before making any decision in this regard, it is imperative to speak carefully with your doctor and seek his or her professional advice.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න