Cord blood preservation is still a new concept in India and a lot of people are unaware about this concept.
Due to unawareness many people lose once in a lifetime opportunity to bio-insure their child's future.
We hope that parents understand the concept fully and make an informed decision to store the stem cells of their baby.
We have discussed few common misconceptions here.
In case you have any more doubts kindly contact us and we will be happy to help you.
- Doctors may not treat the child with his or her own cord blood because it would contain the disease.
Autologus stem cell transplants are performed routinely in treatment of life threatening diseases like Leukemia, Lymphoma, Krabbe's Disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, Osteopetrosis, Cardiovascular disease etc.
Research from the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that even with early-onset disease (within twelve months of birth), the child's stem cells are still recommended for use in transplantation. Autologous cord blood stem cells have many advantages as a transplant source, including no risk of graft vs. host disease (GVHD-a leading cause of death for transplant patients), immediate availability and low risk of the cells being contaminated with disease. They have been as successful as allogenic (from donors) transplants.
- My family doesn't have a history of cancer, chances of my family needs a transfer are low, so I don't have to bank the stem cells.
Causes of most of the cancers remain still unknown. Modern lifestyles hazards have made all of us prone to this deadly disease. The only way to conquer this unpredictability is to secure your child's stem cells.
According to recent data based on the
ABT Associates Clinical Trials 2004 cord blood study, it could be as low as 1 in 27 for the average population (though not all patients with a disease treatable with cord blood stem cells qualify for transplant). Further studies show that given the current indications for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), the lifetime likelihood that a child will someday need cord blood stem cells is estimated at 1 in 400, with odds that a child or family member may benefit from banked cord blood at 1 in 200.
* Pasquini MC, Logan BR, Verter F, Horowitz MM, Nietfeld JJ. The Likelihood of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HCT) in the United States: Implications for Umbilical Cord Blood Storage. Blood 2005; 106(11): 1330
Due to the progressive science of regenerative medicine, the odds of personal use could increase greatly.
- There are public banks ready to provide stem cells why should I bank with a private bank?
Once donated, the cord blood units are put into a public pool. There is no guarantee that the donated stem cells will be available to the same donor at later stage if the donor needs it. It is time as well as money consuming. Also there is no guarantee that you will get the right donor when needed.
In private cord blood bank like Babycell the samples are exclusively maintained for your child. Your child's cord blood provided 100 % match for its transplantation so no need to search for a donor and it is available when ever required.
- "Cord blood collection takes important blood away from my baby."
Umbilical cord of a baby was treated as a bio waste for centuries when the world was unaware of the potential of umbilical cord blood. It is only in past couple of decades that we started collecting and preserving these magical stem cells. These stem cells are collected after the cord is clamped, cut and separated from baby. So when we collect cord blood it is no ways connected to baby and hence completely safe for mother as well as the baby.
- "The cord blood stem cells may not remain viable after long-term storage."
The stem cells are stored at - 196 °c in liquid nitrogen. This undisturbed state of cells is called as suspended animation. Research shows that such cryo preserved cells need not have an expiry date as they show the same viability and biological activity when used for transplantation purpose. Ultimate length of cryopreservation storage time, continuing to yield a viable stem cell has not been determined. This is because stem cell cryopreservation is a newer science or procedure. We know that stem cells can be successfully cryopreserved for at least 20 years. Babycell provides with two conjoint compartments in one freezing blood bag, these compartments can be easily separated for future use.
- "Future uses for stem cell are limited."
World over stem cell therapy is considered as one of the strong pillar of medicine along with pharmaceutical and surgery treatments. Over 8000 transplants are done using cord blood stem cells.
Scientist have successfully grown heart cells, lung cells and recently a human sperm using the stem cells,
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Governments are trying to encourage stem cell research because of its promising future. On 9th march 2009 Obama government lifted the ban on funding of stem cell research,
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Considering the tremendous progress stem cell therapy has made in treatment of complicated diseases like type one diabetes and Alzheimer's. We can surely say that stem cell is bright and has strength to cure the patient from many serious illnesses.
- Cord blood banking is a very costly process.
Babycell offers you the industry low prices with world-class quality.
We offer to collect and preserve the cord blood and/or cord tissue at very affordable prices.
Click here to know moreIt is a great investment considering finding a bone marrow donor and the BM transplant is a much costly procedure.
With progress many families now store their stem cells to help them take advantage of the potential future health-benefits. So if you believe in progress, if you believe that science will advance, if you have confidence in the future, then you should save your baby's stem cells through cord blood banking.