Cord blood banking: A new source of hematopoietic stem cells for marrow transplantation

Umbilical cord blood contains an approximately 10-fold increased concentration of multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cells (''stem cells'') than bone marrow Stem cells form the basis for marrow reconstitution in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. As such, umbilical cord blood, previously a discarded product, provides a newly recognized alternate source of stem cells. This monograph contains information about the initial results of transplant procedures using cord blood as a stem cell source, discussion of public and private cord blood banks, an obstetrician's perspective on the collection of cord blood, methods for processing and cryopreserving cord blood, regulations pertaining to cord blood banking, validation studies, and potential future technologic applications for cord blood progenitor cells.