Cord Blood Banking

Definition: Cord Blood banking is a method of storing stem cells collected from fetal umbilical cord blood.

Umbilical cord blood, also known as UCB, contains blood stem cells that can also be transplanted to regenerate a patient's immune system. Researchers are finding that small numbers of stem cells can be harvested from bone marrow, cord blood, and placentas. A patient who needs a marrow transplant but who cannot find a donor has effectively run out of medical options, so the cord blood you donate could be the difference between life and death for that patient.

Donating cord blood is safe. Donating poses no health risks to you or your baby because the cord blood is collected after the baby is born.