Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Section 1. Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
Section 2. The Collection Procedure
Section 1. Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
1)
What are stem cells?
2)
What
illnesses can the cells treat?
3)
What
is the characteristic that enables these cells to "cure"
a
diseased blood
system, as with leukaemia?
4)
How likely is it that my child will ever need these cells?
5)
What is the possibility of matching with in my family?
6)
What happens to these cells after 20 years?
7)
What is the difference between cord blood stem cells, embryonic
stem cells, and
bone marrow stem cells?
8)
Do
you think people get confused between obtaining stem cells
from un-needed
embryos, bone marrow, and now umbilical cord
blood? Is the
confusion understandable, or is at all the same
science?
9)
Is
it possible to obtain stem cells later in life?
1)
What
are stem cells?
They are a unique type of growth cell, the
original building blocks of life for the developing embryo in the womb. They
turn into the different types of cells needed to make up the child, from heart
muscles and skin tissues to red blood cells. Once separated from the cord blood,
they can be stored in liquid nitrogen, and can be multiplied in the laboratory.
They are brought out of storage if and when the person becomes ill and requires
stem cells’ transplant.
2) What
illnesses can the cells treat?
The main use so far has been childhood leukaemia and some other cancers, but
potentially the cells could be used to treat illnesses such as diabetes,
strokes, multiple sclerosis, brain and muscle diseases, Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s diseases.
3)
What is the characteristic that enables these cells to "cure" a diseased blood
system, as with leukaemia?
It
is the renewing properties of the cells which allows them to be used as a
treatment. The diseased cells must be completely removed by chemotherapy and in
some cases radiotherapy. The umbilical cord stem cells can then be given
intravenously to the patient and they will build a complete new blood system and
maintain it for years to come.
4)
How likely
is it that my child will ever need these cells?
Hopefully never. If you think about it
as an insurance policy, you always hope that you don’t have to use it, but if
you do it’s there.
5)
What is the
possibility of matching with in my family?
There is a one in four (1:4) chance
that siblings will match. This ratio goes up exponentially for parents and
grandparents.
6)
What happens
to these cells after 20 years?
We believe that the cells will be
viable indefinitely. There is no evidence to support that the cells will
deteriorate after 20 years. In fact, the first sample that was stored was in
1979 and is still viable today. After 19 years, we will contact our clients
allowing them the option to continue storing their sample.
7)
What is the
difference between cord blood stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and bone marrow
stem cells?
a)
Stem cells
from the umbilical cord are more flexible than stem cells taken from an adult’s
bone marrow. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are the predecessors of adult stem
cells, and have the ability to divide into each type of cell, whereas bone
marrow stem cells may have a more difficult time dividing.
b)
Umbilical
cord blood stem cells have a greater repopulating potential than bone marrow
stem cells.
c)
Bone marrow
and peripheral blood stem cell collection are painful and complicated
procedures.
d)
There are
also many instances when bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells cannot be
used, which would mean finding a donor.
e)
Embryonic
stem cells are cells that are taken from a 0-14 day old embryo. They are the
richest form of stem cell but are associated with many ethical, religious, and
legal issues.
8)
Do you think people get confused between obtaining stem cells from un-needed
embryos, bone marrow, and now umbilical cord blood? Is the confusion
understandable, or is at all the same science?
There is confusion as
to the source of stem cells and these sources are very different. Embryonic
stem cells are a completely different set of cells compared to umbilical cord
blood stem cells and they are regulated by the government. At the scientific
level the concepts are similar but embryonic stem cells raise many legal,
ethical and moral questions which umbilical cord stem cells do not.
9)
Is it
possible to obtain stem cells later in life?
Yes, stem cells can be found in our bone marrow where they continue to generate
new blood cells throughout our lives. But cord blood stem cells have a number of
important advantages over bone marrow. Cord blood stem cells are easier to
obtain than stem cells from bone marrow, and treatments using cord blood stem
cells can be less costly than bone marrow transplants. Additionally, the
collection of cord blood is a quick, non-invasive and painless procedure with no
risk to the mother or newborn. More important, however, is the fact that cord
blood stem cells are a perfect match for the child they are collected from, thus
eliminating the difficult process of finding a matching donor and minimizing the
risks of rejection. Umbilical cord blood stem cells have a 1:4 (25%) chance of
being an exact cell match for a sibling.
Section 2. The Collection
Procedure
1)
How is the collection done?
2)
What is in the collection kit?
3)
Who actually does the
collection?
4)
What volume of blood
needs to be taken?
5)
What is the average
amount of blood you have received?
6)
What do I do with the sample after
collection?
7)
Should I put it in the refrigerator?
8)
Are there enough stem
cells in the cord blood for treatment?
9)
Can the blood be collected from the
umbilical cord when it is cut
already?
10)
Is it also possible
to collect the cord blood when the delivery is
taking place at home?
11)
How long the blood
sample can wait before processing?
1)
How is the collection done?
A blood collection kit is issued to new mum long before she goes into labour.
This enables the midwife, or doctor, to assist by extracting blood from the
cord, after the baby is safely delivered. Between 60ml and 100ml of blood needs
to be collected from the cord, and frozen within 72 hours. It takes on average
about three minutes and can not affect the health of mum or baby. The umbilical
cord is simply pricked, and the blood flows into a normal blood bag.
2)
What is in the collection kit?
a)
A sterile
blood collection bag (250cc) with CPD anticoagulant and 16G needle
b)
Alcohol
disinfectant tissues (4) and disinfectant
c)
Sterile
cotton wool
d)
An absorbent
cloth (for transport)
3)
Who actually does the collection?
a)
Ideally,
your midwife or obstetric consultant will perform the procedure.
b)
In some
cases, the father/partner may need to get more involved, and may collect the
cells himself.
4)
What volume of blood needs
to be taken?
a)
We generally
ask for a minimum of 80 cc of blood to be collected.
b)
It is
possible to test a smaller sample, but the likeliness of attaining a sufficient
sample is smaller.
5)
What is the average amount of blood
you have received?
a)
The average
is around 85cc
b)
Smallest
(with success) 50cc – largest 200 cc
6)
What do I do with the sample after collection?
Have someone call DHL to arrange a
pick-up at the hospital or home if it is a home birth.
7)
Should I put it in the refrigerator?
Never put the sample in the fridge or
freezer. This will cause the blood to start clotting. Always keep the sample
at room temperature until DHL arrives.
8)
Are there enough stem cells in
the cord blood for treatment?
The amount of cells necessary is
proportional to the weight of the patient, so the change is better for a child
than for an adult. But doctors are trying to increase in number the stem cells
present in the blood specimen.
9)
Can the blood be collected from the umbilical cord when it
is cut already?
Yes, the umbilical cord is clamped and
cut in the same manner, as it would be for normal delivery.
10)
Is it also possible to collect the cord blood when the
delivery is taking place at home?
Of course, but you have to
give your midwife a set of the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Instructions at
your next prenatal visit for their review.
11)
How long the blood sample can wait before processing?
Lifesafe's propriety developed,
temperature controlled kit beside safe transportation ensures
viability of blood sample at least for 96 hours. This assertion
is based on our labs long term experience in cryobiology having
stored thousands of samples.
