What Is Cord Tissue Banking?

What Is Cord Tissue Banking?

Cord blood gets all the buzz, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved it to treat more than 80 diseases and disorders. But don’t count out the tissue that’s in the umbilical cord, too. Clinical trials are exploring the healing uses for this tissue, and the potential is incredible. What is cord tissue banking, and why should you take advantage of it? When you see the possible applications, you’ll understand.

Cord Tissue Vs. Blood

While both blood and tissue are found in the umbilical cord, they are very different resources. The tissue surrounds the blood vessels in the cord and contains another kind of cell.

  • Cord tissue has mesenchymal stem cells. MSCs can transform into skin, cartilage, bone, fat, and nerve cells.
  • Cord blood has hematopoietic stem cells. HSCs can transform into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

The Future of Cord Tissue

Parents who bank cord tissue along with cord blood are educated on the tremendous potential for it. They’re betting on the future. While the FDA has touted the benefits for cord blood, the ongoing clinical trials for tissue show promise for an impressive array of conditions. The benefits of banking cord tissue are due to its ability to regenerate and repair the body. Cord tissue stimulates self-healing. Just a few of the possible applications:

  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Autism
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Brain injuries
  • Strokes
  • Heart tissue
  • Sports injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries

How Cord Tissue Is Banked

If you want to understand what cord tissue banking is, you’ll find that it’s similar to the process for preserving cord blood. After you give your delivery doctor a kit from New England Cord Blood Bank, the blood and tissue are collected from the umbilical cord. It’s fast and neither Mom nor Baby feel a thing. The storage facility will process the stem cells and place them in special containers for cryogenic freezing. They are monitored and protected 24 hours a day. Enroll with New England Cord Blood Bank, and these once-in-a-lifetime stem cells will be there if your child needs them.