Cord blood is the blood that remains in the vein of the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of birth. Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, which give rise to all the other blood cells. These cells are the foundation of our body's immune system. Cord blood stem cells are currently used to treat nearly 80 diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, and inherited metabolic disorders. Over 50,000 transplants worldwide have been performed using stem cells from umbilical cord blood. As stem cell technologies continue to advance, the opportunities to utilize preserved cord blood are steadily increasing.
Additionally, researchers are exploring how cord blood has the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier and reduce inflammation, which may be instrumental in treating conditions that have been untreatable up to this point. Stem cells from a newborn’s cord blood can be used not only to safeguard that specific child’s future but may also be used to treat their siblings, parents, and other close relatives. Cryo-Cell’s umbilical cord blood banking service processes and cryogenically preserves these cells for potential therapeutic use.
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