Q & A
Cord Blood Q & A
Cord Blood banking is a relatively new option for expecting parents. Viacord, with the help of Brent Davidson, M.D., a Board-certified OB/GYN and Division Head of the Henry Ford Medical Group, helps to answer the following common questions.
Q: My pregnancy is normal and we have no family history of genetic diseases. Should I still consider preserving my baby's cord blood?
A: Some parents choose cord blood preservation for the peace of mind granted in knowing they have access to their family's own stem cells, should they ever need them if faced with certain life-threatening diseases such as leukemia and other cancers. Other parents do it solely for the future potential of these cells. Unless parents arrange to preserve their baby's stem cells at birth, however, they can never take advantage of the future potential of these cells.
Q: What are the odds of someone in our family ever needing our cord blood?
A: The latest statistics reveal that by age 50 there is 1 in 100 chance of being diagnosed with a disease which is now treatable with cord blood.* And with every new cord blood discovery, the likelihood of needing cord blood stem cells becomes greater. For example, researchers at ViaCell Labs recently discovered a new stem cell in umbilical cord blood called the Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cell (USSC). This unique stem cell offers enormous promise in treating heart disease. If the USSC proves successful in treating heart disease, the lifetime probability of a family member needing cord blood stem cells would increase from 1 in 100 to 1 in 2.
Information courtesy of Viacord, a Division of ViaCell, Inc. *Statistics based on Abt Associates Clinical trials 2004 UCB study-data on file. These estimates reflect an upper limit on the probability of using a UCB graft. Not all patients with a disease treatable with cord blood stem cells will qualify for tansplant.
