Why It Is So Important To Store Cord Blood

Guarantee Of A Perfect Match For A Baby

A person must be a match to the donor cells if they are to be a match for any stem cell transplant. For instance, a bone marrow transplant needs a perfect six out of six HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) tissue to match. Finding a bone marrow match is difficult and requires the use of valuable time that can be used for recovery. Anyone who has stored their baby’s cord blood will not have to search for a match; they are able to obtain the stored blood and begin the treatment process. The same blood is guaranteed to match should a sibling of the baby need it. At the same time, cord blood is certain to be a three out of six match to the parents.

A Cure For Many Diseases

Doctors have been able to treat a number of cancers and other malignant diseases such as autoimmune diseases, lymphoma, leukemia, and more. Cord blood stem cells have a higher likelihood of matching with a patient than bone marrow. The reason is that it does not have to meet the matching requirements used in bone marrow transplant, and because of this, doctors and surgeons prefer the use of cord blood stem cells to bone marrow. The lower probability of GVHD (graft versus host disease) has made cord blood stem cells popular among doctors. Currently, researchers are making medical breakthroughs when researching this type of blood. Storing the blood is prudent since the child or a member of the family may require stem cell treatment in the future.