Stem cells have the potential to develop into different kinds of cells in the body working as a repair system for the body. They are two types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells & adult stem cells. The umbilical cord contains maximum stem cells, which are discarded as medical waste post-childbirth. Now with much R&D advancement, these stem cells have been deemed to be one of the most useful sources of blood stem cells.

Cord blood or umbilical cord blood is in the placenta and the attached umbilical cord post the delivery of the child. Cord blood banking or collection & storing of these stem cells is done, as it can be used to treat hematopoietic (blood-related) diseases and genetic disorders. Cord blood banks store the cord blood by freezing it at a certain temperature.

How is Cord Blood a Source of Adult Stem Cells?

Adult stem cells, also known as tissue stem cells or somatic stem cells, are found in the body, throughout the life of an individual. Cord blood banking is significant in adult stem cell therapy because major stem cells in cord blood are blood-forming and enable cord blood transplants to be easily used as a substitute for bone marrow transplants.

Benefits of Saving Cord Blood

Cord blood is filled with stem cells. Cord blood banking is a life-saving measure because of several reasons:

• One of the major advantages of stem cells is that they can morph into all kinds of blood cells. This is why it can be used to treat disorders that adversely affect the blood and immune systems, such as certain cancer, leukaemia, sickle-cell anaemia and several metabolic disorders.
• It is easier to match cord blood with patients.
• Cord blood banking is also a painless procedure because it is collected at the time of birth from the umbilical cord.
• Over the decade, cord blood therapies have proven to have saved millions of lives.
• Saving cord blood is very crucial for the well-being as well as your family.

Further, there are some more advantages, such as ease of collection, poses no risk to the mother or child, quick processing, less costly than bone marrow collection, less risk for transmission of infection, less need for stringent antigen typing, fewer chances of rejection, & many more

Cord Blood Banking Options

Majorly, there are three cord blood banking options: private, public, & hybrid. Private cord blood banks offer greater assurance to parents as they are backed by research, technology and better storage facilities. Public cord blood banks have adopted a hybrid cord blood banking model, wherein they collaborate with private cord blood banks to provide better & safer storage of cord blood.

Biocell: Umbilical Cord Blood Bank

Biocell is India's leading Umbilical Cord Blood Bank committed to preserving life-saving stem cells for your family's health needs. With Biocell you receive a comprehensive solution, right from safe collection of cord blood to testing & analysis, and secure banking to ensure that stem cells are well-available for therapeutic treatments whenever required. Biocell®, since its inception in 2009, has expanded in over 25 cities, has preserved cord blood of over 50,000 families to date. 

Biocell® is Certified by: British Standard Institution (BSI) for ISO 13485:2003 (International Organisation for Standardisation) for medical devices. BSI is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and hence sample is acceptable worldwide, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Clinical Practices (GCP) & Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). Biocell® is Licensed by: Indian Food and Drug Authority (FDA), Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).