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Cordlife Group Limited
Annual Report 2016
Products and Services Spotlight:
Cord Blood Banking
Cord Blood Banking: An Essential Healthcare
that Every Family Needs
Blood from the umbilical cord is one of the most easily
harvested sources of stem cells, which can be quickly
and painlessly collected at birth and frozen for future
medical use. Cord blood, also called “placental blood”,
is blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta
following the birth of a baby and after the umbilical
cord is cut post delivery. This blood 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 an effective
substitute for bone marrow.
Stem cells from cord blood are not only a perfect match
for the baby but they are also readily available for the
siblings of the child. A recent study projected that
as many as 1 in 217 persons may need to undergo either
allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation.
1
With privately stored cord blood, the individual has full
access to his/her own stem cells when needed. In case
another member within the family requires these cells,
the chance of a match is as high as 75%. Furthermore,
survival rate doubles when the patient receives stem
cells from a related donor as opposed to an unrelated
donor.
2
Scientists believe the true potential of cord blood has yet
to be fully tapped and can be extended to include some
neurological disorders such as autism and cerebral
palsy. Notable clinical trials involving stem cells are
underway for many other conditions and all around the
world, researchers continue to explore new avenues for
regenerative medicine with stem cells.
1
Nietfeld JJ, Pasquini MC, Logan BR, Verter F, Horowitz MM. Lifetime probabilities of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the U.S Biology of
Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2008;14:316-322
2
Gluckman et al., N Engl J Med. 1989;321:1174-1178
