Questions and answers

Umbilical cord blood – is

• a potential source of cells for treatment of diseases where bone transplantation is needed
• restoration of the lost function
• rejuvenation effect

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are universal cells that serve as building material for production of other types of cells that form blood, muscles, immune and nervous system, heart and other organs.

What are the known sources of stem cells?

Main sources of stem cells are:

• bone marrow
• peripheral blood (blood in veins and arteries)
• umbilical blood
• placenta

Stem cells were received also from fat tissue, apical dental areas of deciduous teeth, molars, dens serotinus (third molars), nasopharyngeal mucous membrane (in the region of olfactory receptor the determined stem cells are located; it is possible to grow the cells of nervous tissue from them in culture).

In treatment of what diseases stem cells can be applied?

Clinical experience of stem cells application in different countries allow to talk about more then 70 deadly dangerous diseases, including those of hereditary nature. Most frequently stem cells are used in treatment of oncological diseases of different localizations, genetically determined diseases, leucosis, pancreatic diabetes, immunodeficiency, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

What is umbilical cord blood?

Umbilical cord blood – is a blood that is left in placenta and cord after child’s birth. Before it was considered as useless material and was not used. It was shown in research that umbilical cord blood is the most precious source of stem cells and it can be collected and cryopreserved for application in future.

When does umbilical cord blood being collected?

Right away after child’s birth. This is the only possibility to obtain it.

How safe is the procedure of umbilical cord blood collection?

The procedure is absolutely safe. It is performed without physical contact with mother and newborn. Right away after the birth and child’s separation from cord an aspiration needle of standard container for blood collection (HEMOCON) is inserted in placental part of umbilical vein. The blood should flow spontaneously into the container.

Umbilical cord blood can be collected both in physiological delivery and in Cesarean birth.

How is umbilical cord blood processed in Cryobank laboratory of the Institute of Cellular Medicine?

Umbilical cord blood arrives in laboratory in an air-locked package with preservative preventing from clotting. Mononuclear fraction containing stem cells is separated from the whole blood by fractionating. Remained plasma is sent for analyses (AIDS, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, TORCH-infections, cytomegalovirus, etc.). Cryoprotector is added to the obtained concentrate of stem cells – the substance that prevents cells destruction at low temperature conditions. Received cells are poured out to cryoampules (4.5 ml), frozen and placed for long-term storage in liquid nitrogen (-196°С).

Who can make arrangements with umbilical cord blood stem cells?

One of the parents with the consent of another has the right to make arrangements with blood components before child’s full age, after full age the child will have the right to make arrangements with his/her autologous (own) stem cells.

What are the guarantees that these are exactly the newborn’s cells?

Every sample of umbilical blood has its own marking that is recorded into the certificate together with blood characteristics (blood group, rhesus-factor, amount of cells prepared and mononuclei content).

Besides cryoampules with umbilical blood, 4 satellite ampules (1 ml) are stored that can be use for HLA-typing, genetic control, viability testing and cultivation. If it will be necessary to check the blood by any characteristic by parents’ request, satellite is seized from Cryobank and transferred to independent laboratory for expertise.

For how long umbilical cord blood stem cells can be stored?

Now it is possibly to say with firm confidence that umbilical cord blood stem cells preserved in Cryobank on the base of the Institute of Cellular Therapy can retain almost complete viability (96%) for 20 years. This result was received due to scientific-research work of the specialists of the Institute of Cellular Therapy that developed scientifically grounded technological process of isolation and cryoconservation of stem cells that does not have analogues world-wide, and is protected with 28 Patents and Certificates of recognition.

Although there are evidences that stem cells may be stored eternally.

Can stem cells be used for treatment of child’s family members?

Autologous (own) stem cells will genetically ideally match the child. However, with large probability they may be used for transplantation to immediate relatives - for brothers and sisters.

Is it worth to retain newborn’s umbilical cord blood stem cells?

Only you can decide whether it is necessary for your family. Storage of stem cells may be considered as your confidence in the future, as biological child’s medical insurance especially if there were the following problems in the family:

• genetic predisposition to certain diseases
• if the elder child is ill and needs stem cells transplantation
• if the welcome pregnancy came as a result of artificial impregnation
• if you are happy parents with many children

At present time preservation of umbilical cord blood stem cells is the most perspective way of production of own medication that may be used in critical situations.