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CORDLIFE GROUP LIMITED
| ANNUAL REPORT 2015
BUSINESS UNIT SPOTLIGHT:
BANKING
THE MIRACLE OF CORD BLOOD
Upon the birth of a baby, the
umbilical cord that is cut after delivery
contains cord blood, also known as
“placental blood”. This is a rich source
of haematopoietic stem cells (“HSCs”),
which are primarily responsible for
replenishing blood and regenerating
the immune system, and has been
proven to be a substitute for bone
marrow. HSCs contained in cord
blood have been successfully used in
transplants to replace and regenerate
damaged or diseased bone marrow,
treat blood cancers and to correct
genetic defects.
Cord blood stem cells have the unique
ability to differentiate into various cell
types such as red blood cells to carry
oxygen to all cells in the body, white
blood cells to fight infection, and
platelets to assist blood clotting in
the event of injury. Collection of cord
blood is safe, quick and painless. The
collection takes place immediately after
the birth of a baby by an obstetrician.
Subsequent to the collection of the
cord blood, it will be transported to
Cordlife’s laboratory for processing and
final cryopreservation in cryogenic
storage tanks at below -150 degree
Celsius.
ONE CHANCE TO COLLECT CORD
BLOOD
As parents prepare for the arrival of
their baby, one of the first and most
important decisions to make would
be to save their baby’s cord blood. A
baby’s cord blood is a rich source of
stem cells that may be used to treat
certain cancers and blood disorders.
Statistics estimate that 1 in 217 persons
may need stem cells for treatment in
their lifetime. In Singapore alone, close
to 40-60% of patients who require
stem cell transplants are unable to find
a suitable match from bone marrow
donors and public cord blood banks.
Hence, saving the baby’s cord blood
could be a lifesaving decision for one’s
family.
