Collecting A Sample For Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking
Umbilical cord blood stem cells have the ability to supply the same kinds of blood forming stem cells as bone marrow does. Cord blood stem cell banking is becoming increasingly popular with parents as it means that there will be a supply of the child's blood stored for if and when their offspring should need it as a result of illness or injury where a transfusion is necessary. There are several benefits to cord blood stem cell banking: you know there is a supply of compatible blood there for when you need it; you know that it has come from inside yourself so reactions are minimized (these are possible even with a transfusion of the correct blood type) but how do you get a sample for cord blood stem cell banking?
There are several companies who can help you with cord blood cell banking by giving you a secure place to bank your child's sample until it is needed; hopefully it never will be, but increasingly, parents are not taking that risk. Try putting a search for 'cord blood cell banking' into a major internet search engine and you'll find plenty of options. Once you have paid to enroll on the cord blood stem cell banking, you will receive a collection kit. Often this kit will use a bag for collection by gravity. Doctors and midwives usually prefer this collection method for cord blood cell banking because it is easy and makes it possible to collect as much of the blood as possible. A good cord blood cell banking scheme will also provide straightforward instructions for the medical team taking care of the collection. Don't forget to take your cord blood cell banking kit with you when you go to hospital for the delivery! From there on in, you needn't think about the procedure; just let your medical team take care of it all for you. Medics are becoming increasing used to this procedure and it is very straightforward. The cord blood stem banking procedure itself does not interfere with your baby's delivery. It is clean and painless for both the mother and baby, but you might not want to read on if you're eating your supper! Collecting the sample The first stage in cord blood stem cell banking is to clamp and cut the umbilical cord as would always happen after birth. A small sample of the cord is rubbed with sterilization fluid to sanitize it and a needle is inserted into the umbilical cord vein. Then just as if you were donating blood, the sample flows into the bag. The whole process takes less than five minutes and then a small sample of blood will also be taken from you for testing. Then you just need to call the stem cell blood bank courier to come and collect the blood bag. They are on call 24/7 for a quick collection. Keep the sample with you until it is collected by your courier. They will take it to your cord blood stem cell banking facility where it will be safely stored in optimal conditions; this is most often through cryo-preservation in liquid nitrogen many degrees below zero. Hopefully, that is the last you will ever have to think of this stem cell blood sample, but if your child does then need it, even in adulthood, it will there and waiting for you to be quickly thawed and used. With cord blood stem banking being this easy, no wonder people are making this investment in their child's future. |