In many ways, the use of cord blood in treating a host of medical conditions is a relatively new procedure. This has not precluded widespread interest from all sorts of quarters in the way the technology works in both treatment and management of diseases. Taking advantage of the numerous stem cells present in the umbilical cord blood, doctors have developed a system of extracting a sample during or before delivery and then have it stored in readiness for future needs.
While the afterbirth used to be discarded right after birth as medical waste, it is now common for the process of extracting a sample to be done before disposal is done. If a case arises in the future where these stem cells might prove a match for a patient, then the sample in storage is used for treatment as the case might be. With new research helping experts come up with newer and better methods of using this technology, the future looks promising in this field of medical practice.
There is a substantial list of both malignant and non-malignant conditions that render themselves naturally to this technology. It has also been proven to be effective for both adults and children. In particular, the method is effective in treating leukemia, non Hodgkin's lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, spinal injuries and diabetes.
As far as it can be established, there has been much more research into the application of bone marrow extracts in treatment of many of these diseases. Nonetheless, this is an option that has gained popularity in a much shorter period of time. Making use of cells that are yet to differentiate, it is possible to use them in treatment of a host of problems where they will naturally adapt in development of any type of body tissue.
In comparison to donations made from the bone marrow, cord blood banking has a couple of advantages. For one, the extraction process is far much easier as there is no need to anesthetize the donor before collection of a sample is done. Furthermore, there is no risk of infection as the extraction is done after the umbilical cord has been severed from both the mother and child.
There are generally two methods by which the extraction and collection can be done. If the procedure is done before delivery, this is referred to as 'in-utero', if this is done after birth of the baby has occurred, it referred to as 'ex-utero'. The risks are minimal whether delivery is vaginal or cesarean.
After the extraction has happened in the delivery room, a medical courier is normally engaged in transferring the sample to a designated blood-bank. At this facility, the extract will be screened to ensure that it does not contain any infectious elements like Malaria or AIDS. Another procedure done before storage commences is the removal of red blood cells.
A gradual cooling of the cord blood then follows right after the initial processing. This is done to ensure that the cells within do not go into shock and therefore lose any regenerative ability. After attaining temperatures of around minus ninety degrees, the sample is transferred to some custom freezer for storage. Specially made storage bags are used to enhance the longevity of the sample and to make any future removal as easy as possible.
The use of cord blood in treatment of various ailments has brought about the birth of a new field of medical practice. Its effectiveness as well as ease of extraction has made a compelling case that has seen it pose a challenge to more established methods.
While the afterbirth used to be discarded right after birth as medical waste, it is now common for the process of extracting a sample to be done before disposal is done. If a case arises in the future where these stem cells might prove a match for a patient, then the sample in storage is used for treatment as the case might be. With new research helping experts come up with newer and better methods of using this technology, the future looks promising in this field of medical practice.
There is a substantial list of both malignant and non-malignant conditions that render themselves naturally to this technology. It has also been proven to be effective for both adults and children. In particular, the method is effective in treating leukemia, non Hodgkin's lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, spinal injuries and diabetes.
As far as it can be established, there has been much more research into the application of bone marrow extracts in treatment of many of these diseases. Nonetheless, this is an option that has gained popularity in a much shorter period of time. Making use of cells that are yet to differentiate, it is possible to use them in treatment of a host of problems where they will naturally adapt in development of any type of body tissue.
In comparison to donations made from the bone marrow, cord blood banking has a couple of advantages. For one, the extraction process is far much easier as there is no need to anesthetize the donor before collection of a sample is done. Furthermore, there is no risk of infection as the extraction is done after the umbilical cord has been severed from both the mother and child.
There are generally two methods by which the extraction and collection can be done. If the procedure is done before delivery, this is referred to as 'in-utero', if this is done after birth of the baby has occurred, it referred to as 'ex-utero'. The risks are minimal whether delivery is vaginal or cesarean.
After the extraction has happened in the delivery room, a medical courier is normally engaged in transferring the sample to a designated blood-bank. At this facility, the extract will be screened to ensure that it does not contain any infectious elements like Malaria or AIDS. Another procedure done before storage commences is the removal of red blood cells.
A gradual cooling of the cord blood then follows right after the initial processing. This is done to ensure that the cells within do not go into shock and therefore lose any regenerative ability. After attaining temperatures of around minus ninety degrees, the sample is transferred to some custom freezer for storage. Specially made storage bags are used to enhance the longevity of the sample and to make any future removal as easy as possible.
The use of cord blood in treatment of various ailments has brought about the birth of a new field of medical practice. Its effectiveness as well as ease of extraction has made a compelling case that has seen it pose a challenge to more established methods.
About the Author:
Located at Toronto General Hospital, we are a Cord blood clinic experienced in Cord blood banking Canada and cord blood banking.
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