Cord Blood and Tissue Banking
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are reparative cells that form the structure of all tissues and organs in the body. They can regenerate themselves and transform into different cell types. When any tissue damage occurs in our body, they have the ability to migrate to the damaged area and provide tissue repair. Currently, the sources of stem cells used for therapeutic purposes include: Adipose (fat) tissue, bone marrow, dental stem cells, umbilical cord blood, and umbilical cord tissue.
What Is Umbilical Cord Blood? What Are Its Uses?
Umbilical cord blood is the blood remaining on the placenta—which facilitates the exchange of nutrients and oxygen between the baby and the mother—and contains the youngest stem cells. After birth, the placenta completes its function. Collecting the umbilical cord and the blood remaining within it allows for the preservation of these stem cell-rich resources. These cells are protected from many environmental factors (sunlight, temperature changes, radioactive radiation, etc.) while in the mother’s womb. Today, cord blood stem cells can be used to treat over 80 diseases and form a significant portion of research in the field of regenerative medicine. Leukemia is the disease with the highest percentage of treatments involving stem cell transplants.
What Is Umbilical Cord Tissue (Umbilical Cord)?
These cells are derived from umbilical cord tissue. The umbilical cord, which facilitates the exchange of nutrients and metabolites between the mother and the baby, serves as a source of stem cells with characteristics closest to embryonic stem cells, alongside umbilical cord blood. This source contains the youngest stem cells with the highest capacity to differentiate into other cell types.
What Are the Applications?
Umbilical cord tissue cells possess a high differentiation capacity, enabling them to transform into various cell types—such as bone, cartilage, muscle, and nerve cells—making them suitable for use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. They can be used in the treatment of diabetes, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and orthopedic conditions. Their immunomodulatory properties have been shown to be effective in protecting patients from graft rejection during tissue and organ transplants. They can be used in the treatment of pandemic diseases such as COVID-19.
Why Should Cord Blood and Cord Tissue Be Stored?
It allows for autologous (personal) use when needed.
Transplantation between siblings and other family members may be possible. The likelihood of a perfect genetic match between two siblings is high.
The source is kept ready for use.
The right to use stem cells stored long-term belongs to the family for the duration of the agreement.
Umbilical cord blood stem cells can treat all diseases that can be treated with bone marrow.
Umbilical cord blood stem cells are the most suitable cellular agents for regenerative therapies.
They are easily compatible after transplantation.
The likelihood of causing side effects is low.
The stem cells you store are covered by insurance.
How Is Umbilical Cord Blood and Tissue Collected?
Families who decide to store their baby’s umbilical cord blood and/or tissue through Genkord’s umbilical cord blood and stem cell banking service can contact our center 24/7 to begin the preparation process.
For the collection of umbilical cord blood and/or tissue, a cord blood and tissue collection kit is sent to the family starting from the 35th week of pregnancy. The procedure is performed by the attending physician at the time of delivery.
The collected umbilical cord blood and/or tissue must be transported to our center within 36 hours in the Genkord kit under appropriate storage conditions. The cord blood and/or tissue delivered to our center is stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at -196°C in our laboratory, which is established in accordance with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards.