Cord blood, which contains powerful stem cells, comes from a newborn’s umbilical cord and is collected immediately after birth. Once the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, the remaining blood in the umbilical cord is drawn into a collection bag.

What makes cord blood cells different?

Cord blood stem cells are biologically younger and are more flexible compared to ***** stem cells from other sources like bone marrow. When saved, they have unique qualities and advantages:

• Less risk of complications when used in transplants39
• Ability to use one’s own stem cells for conditions that currently lack medical treatment options, also known as “autologous transplantation”
• Immediately available and can minimize disease progression in early treatment40
• Preserving them "stops the clock" and protects the cells from aging and being exposed to environmental factors and common viruses that can decrease their function41

Stem cells can heal the body, promote recovery, and offer an enormous amount of therapeutic potential. Learn about families who have used their stem cells here.

Doctors Recommend 
Cord Blood Banking

The use of umbilical cord blood stem cells has increased significantly in the past 20 years.38 Today, doctors all over the world are realizing the power of newborn stem cells and recommending family banking to their patients. 

When faced with the illness of a child or loved one, families want hope and doctors want options. Banking newborn stem cells provides both.

Doctors recommend banking for a variety of reasons. Umbilical cord blood is used today to treat many life-threatening diseases including leukemia, certain other cancers and blood, immune and metabolic disorders. And using your own family’s cord blood can have significant advantages in treatments, including fewer complications and improved medical outcomes.28,29

What Doctors Say About Banking Newborn Stem Cells

Potentially Lifesaving Purchase

"There's only two things that (you can) potentially buy your new baby that are lifesaving: One is a good car seat and the other is cord blood."

~ Dr. Marra Francis, Ob/Gyn, CBR medical consultant

More Uses Than We Know

~ Dr. LeeAnn Jensen, Immunologist National Institutes of Health

Potential to Heal the Body in New Ways

"A really exciting area that's just now in the basic science lab, is the area where stem cells...can be used for going over to muscle cells like your heart muscle if you had a heart attack...or brain cells if you had Parkinson's Disease...Hopefully, in 20 or 30 or 40 years...these might be potential applications for stem cells including umbilical cord blood stem cells."

~ Dr. Stanton Goldman, Pediatric Hematologist Oncologist and stem cell transplant Physician, Medical City, Dallas, Texas

A Chance of Nervous System Repair

"Through cultivation of stem cells extracted from the cord blood, patients with spinal injuries have a great chance of having their damaged nervous system repaired, helping them to rise on their feet again."

~ Dr. Chiang Yung-hsiao, Ph.D., Chairman of Neurosurgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Tapei, Taiwan

Might Be Useful For Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries

"[Cord blood stem cells] might be suitable for transplantation in neurodegenerative diseases, gene delivery to the central nervous system, and repair of brain and spinal cord injuries."

~ Juan R. Sanchez-Ramos, Shijie Song, Siddharth G. Kamath, et al. Experimental Neurology, 171, 2001

Significant for Ethnic Minorities and Families with History of Cancer

"The ultimate goal is for all usable umbilical cord blood to be banked in a national cord blood [bank] similar to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program or saved for an individual's or family's own potential use. The latter may prove especially significant for those with a family history of leukemia or cancer or for minority ethnic patients."

~ Nursing Spectrum, February 24, 1997

A Better Chance for a Healthy Recovery

~ Drs. Vanderson Rocha, John E. Wagner, Jr., Eliane Gluckman, et. al. New England Journal of Medicine, June 22, 2000

Public policy initiatives continue to reinforce the importance of educating expectant parents on the value of cord blood stem cells.

In 2005, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a comprehensive report to Congress on cord blood banking. The report contains clear recommendations that health care professionals should provide all expectant parents with fair and balanced education on cord blood preservation prior to labor and delivery, thereby enabling families to make an informed decision regarding their options: preserve the stem cells for future family use, donate the cells for public use or research, or dispose of the cord blood.

IOM Study Shapes Public Health Policy

The IOM Study has helped to guide health policy at the state level. To date, 29 states have passed some form of cord blood education legislation. The majority of states follow the IOM recommendations. Several other states are in various stages of developing similar legislation to help inform health care providers and expectant parents of all medically appropriate options for preserving cord blood stem cells.

The purple shaded states in the below map have enacted laws intended to help expectant parents, as well as their health care providers, become aware of their cord blood banking options: preserve for future family use, donate for public use or research, or discard as medical waste.

As of 2007, health care professionals must inform a pregnant patient in her second trimester of all medically appropriate cord blood options. The Arizona Department of Health Services has developed a brochure, including the benefits of cord blood collection to the newborn, biological family, and non-related individuals.

As of 2008, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. The statute also establishes a program where taxpayers can contribute a portion of their state income tax refunds towards a statewide cord blood banking program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

As of 2008, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. The California Department of Public Health provides information regarding cord blood banking in the California Prenatal Screening Program brochure.

In 2010, California’s state government created the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program (UCBCP), administered by UC Davis Health System. The statewide public cord blood banking program is funded through a $2 fee on certified copies of birth certificates.

As of 2008, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients regarding options for donating to a public cord blood bank. With support from the Checkoff Colorado donations in tax years 2008-2010, the University of Colorado Cord Blood Bank established a Statewide Umbilical Cord Blood Collection program wherein qualified Colorado residents can now donate their babies’ umbilical cord blood.

As of 2009, health care professionals must inform a pregnant patient in her third trimester of all medically appropriate cord blood options.

Legislation enacted in 2011 created an eight-member Connecticut Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Board to establish a state umbilical cord blood collection program.

As of 2011, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. Florida explicitly endorses the use of patient education resources developed by the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation.

As of 2009, health care professionals must inform pregnant patients, within 30 days from the beginning of the third trimester, of all medically appropriate cord blood options. Additionally, the statute establishes the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Bank and creates the Georgia Commission for Saving the Cure.

As of 2008, health care professional are encouraged to educate pregnant patients, before the third trimester, regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. The Illinois Department of Public Health prepares and distributes written materials containing standardized objective information about cord blood banking that is sufficient to allow expectant parents to make an informed decision.

Additionally, legislation enacted in 2007 directs the Illinois Department of Public Health to establish a network of public cord blood banks and creates a committee to advise the Department concerning the administration of the cord blood stem cell bank network.

Effective July 2016, individuals providing birthing services and prenatal care in the State of Indiana must distribute informationabout postnatal fluid and postnatal tissue donation, including cord blood donation, to pregnant patients as part of Indiana'sPostnatal Donation Initiative.

As of 2007, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients, prior to or during the third trimester, regarding options for donating to a public cord blood bank.

As of 2008, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals are required to promote awareness of the potential benefits of cord blood banking. The department will develop an outreach campaign via written materials, brochures, the Internet, and public service announcements to promote cord blood banking awareness. Also, the legislation calls for educating medical professionals and establishing a toll free number for information on all cord blood banks serving the state. Implementation is dependent on funding.

As of 2006, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients regarding options for donating to a public cord blood bank. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene distributes educational materials on public donation for obstetricians and hospitals with obstetrical services to provide to their pregnant patients.

As of 2005, all hospitals must inform pregnant patients, within 30 days from the commencement of the third trimester, regarding options for donating to a public cord blood bank. Additionally, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health administers a program that encourages health care professionals to educate pregnant patients regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options.

As of 2007, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients, prior to the commencement of the third trimester, regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. Upon appropriation of sufficient funding, the Michigan Department of Health is charged with developing and disseminating educational materials and related information to enable the public to make informed decisions about the utilization of cord blood stem cells.

As of 2014, the Mississippi Department of Health is authorized to promote public awareness of the potential benefits of cord blood banking. Upon appropriation of sufficient funding, the Mississippi Department of Health is charged with developing educational and outreach programs and materials aimed at healthcare professionals.

As of 2011, health care professional are encouraged to educate pregnant patients, prior to the commencement of the third trimester, regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. Missouri explicitly endorses the use of patient education resources developed by the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation.

As of 2008, health care professionals must inform a pregnant patient as early as possible, preferably in the first trimester, of all medically appropriate cord blood options. The legislation also includes a provision for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to make available an educational brochure.

In 2005, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to create a publicly funded cord blood and placental stem cell bank and education program. Community Blood Services oversees all operations of the New Jersey Cord Blood Bank (NJCBB).

As of 2006, health care professionals must inform pregnant patients, following the commencement of the third trimester, regarding options for donating to a public cord blood bank.

As of 2009, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients as early as possible of all medically appropriate cord blood options. The legislation requires the North Carolina Department of Health to provide expectant parents and providers with education resources about cord blood stem cells and the options for preserving them.

As of 2012, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. North Dakota explicitly endorses the use of patient education resources developed by the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation.

As of 2010, health care professionals are encouraged to educate pregnant patients, prior to the commencement of the third trimester, regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. Ohio explicitly endorses the use of patient education resources developed by the Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation.

As of 2008, the Oklahoma State Department of Health is required to establish a program to educate pregnant patients on cord blood banking. The program must provide patients sufficient information to make an informed decision on whether or not to donate to a public bank or store with a private bank. The legislation mandates that all physicians and hospitals licensed in Oklahoma inform each pregnant patient under their care, within 30 days from the commencement of the third trimester, of the opportunity to donate to the public umbilical cord blood bank established by the legislation.

As of 2008, health care professionals must inform expectant parents, prior to the end of the second trimester, of all medically appropriate cord blood options. The legislation requires the Pennsylvania Department of Health to make available an online brochure that providers can give to their patients.

As of 2008, health care professionals must inform expectant parents, following the commencement of the second trimester, of all medically appropriate cord blood options.

As of 2010, health care professionals are encouraged to educate expectant parents, prior to the commencement of the third trimester, regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. Tennessee explicitly endorses the use of patient education resources developed by the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation.

As of 2008, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is mandated to promote public awareness of all medically appropriate cord blood options via a brochure. The brochure must be provided by health care professionals to pregnant women before the third trimester, or as soon as reasonably feasible.

As of 2010, health care professionals must inform expectant parents, prior to the commencement of the third trimester, regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. Virginia explicitly endorses the use of patient education resourcesdeveloped by the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation.

As of 2010, health care professionals are encouraged to inform expectant parents, prior to the commencement of the third trimester, regarding all medically appropriate cord blood options. The law ensures that expectant parents have greater access to cord blood information prior to the third trimester of pregnancy to help them more readily arrange for private cord stem cell storage or public donation as alternatives to discarding cord blood as medical waste.

As of 2005, health care professionals must inform expectant parents, prior to the 35th week of pregnancy, of options for donating to a public cord blood bank.