Cord Blood:

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking and Transplantation Resources

Cord Blood Donation Resources
Info For Cord Blood Donors
Info For Cord Blood Patients
Info For Physicians, Nurses and Healthcare Providers
Info For Cord Blood Banks

Every year, thousands of people are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses such as leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, immune system disorders and other illnesses. For many of these patients, an umbilical cord blood transplant can help save their lives.

Patients with such diseases require stem cells—cells which can transform into healthy blood cells—in order to survive. Stem cells can be transplanted from a healthy donor into a patient's body, provided that their tissue types (HLA types) are sufficiently well matched.

Umbilical cord blood is one source of stem cells. (The other two sources of adult stem cells are bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells.) Umbilical cord blood stem cells are non-controversial, since they are collected from the umbilical cord after the safe birth of a child.

Cord blood cells offer advantages over other types of non-embryonic stem cells:

• Cord blood cells are more easily tolerated - i.e. less likely to be rejected by the patient's immune system after transplant.

• This is especially helpful for patients who have not found a donor of the exact same HLA type as themselves - for example, minority patients or those with uncommon HLA types. (The more closely matched the better, which is why HLA testing is so crucial to the process. While other organizations actually collect the cord blood, BoneMarrowTest.com performs the HLA testing that allows patients searching registries to find a donor match.)

• Cord blood banking allows cord blood cells to be cryopreserved (kept in cold storage) so that the cells can be quickly available for transplant - often in less than 2 weeks. This can make a big difference if a patient needs a transplant fast.

CORD BLOOD DONATION RESOURCES

You can count on these organizations' cord blood sample quality and that they meet stringent health requirements.

• Michigan Community Blood Centers (MCBC) Cord Blood Bank is a nonprofit facility established in 1999 to collect voluntarily donated umbilical cord blood. Accepting donations from the greater Grand Rapids, greater Saginaw, and Traverse City areas. 1-866-MIBLOOD, option #2, or email us at cordblood@miblood.org. More information about our program can be found on our website at www.miblood.org.

• CHOC's ( Children's Hospital of Orange County; Orange, California ) Cord Blood Bank: Accepting cord blood donations from moms who deliver in Saint Joseph Hospital of Orange County.

• Alberta Cord Blood Bank in Alberta Canada: We are now banking in both the public and private sector. Our private sector is called the Canadian Cord Blood Registry (www.ccbr.ca)

We are acquiring new resources all the time - for the latest information, please contact us at bonemarrowtest.com customer care.

• In addition to the above resources, you can also contact the National Marrow Donor Program: Call toll-free in the US 1-800-MARROW2 (1-800-627-7692). Outside the US, call 1-612-627-5800 (note: may incur long-distance or international phone charges). Or email patientinfo@nmdp.org.

IF YOU WISH TO BE A DONOR

We encourage all expectant mothers to consider public cord blood banking, especially women from racially and ethnically diverse communities. There is an especially pressing need for cord blood donations from Asians, African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians/Native Americans/Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, and those of multiple races. You may be the only hope for members of your community who have trouble finding a matching donor.

If you are pregnant, and wish to donate your cord to a public registry for use by any patient anywhere, please contact one of the organizations above and they can discuss those arrangements with you personally.

• If you would like to have your cord collected and stored privately, please either contact us at bonemarrowtest.com or contact one of the private cord blood banks that handle private storage.

IF YOU ARE A PATIENT

If you are a patient or the friend/family of someone seeking a cord blood donation, please contact the resources above. These cord blood banks have pre-screened and pre-tested donated cord blood samples and can quickly complete the HLA typing needed to find your match. Transplant centers can count on the cord blood samples' quality and that they meet stringent health requirements.

In addition to the above resources, you can also contact the National Marrow Donor Program: Call toll-free in the US 1-888-999-6743. Outside the US, call 1-612-627-8140 (note: may incur long-distance or international phone charges). Or email patientinfo@nmdp.org .

IF YOU ARE A PHYSICIAN, NURSE OR OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

If your patients are in need of HLA typing resources, please contact us at bonemarrowtest.com.