What is cord blood?

Cord blood is blood from the baby that remains in the baby’s umbilical cord and placenta after birth. Some families choose to save their baby’s umbilical cord blood because of the stem cells it contains. Parents do this through what’s called “cord blood banking,” or sometimes called newborn stem cell banking or stem cell preservation.

Why do some families choose to preserve cord blood?

Cord blood is a rich source of Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These cells are responsible for building and maintaining our blood and immune system throughout life. Stem cells can develop into different cell types (like blood, muscle, or neural cells), replenish themselves, and replace damaged cells with healthy ones. This is what makes stem cells so valuable and why they are often described as a “biological repair kit for the body.”

What can cord blood be used for?

There are currently two areas of medicine where cord blood can potentially be used: stem cell transplants and regenerative medicine clinical trials (research). Stem cell transplants use HSCs from cord blood to regenerate new blood and immune systems.

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), cord blood can be used in hematopoietic stem cell transplants to help treat certain disorders, including:

• Certain cancers, like leukemias and lymphomas
• Some inherited metabolic disorders
• Some inherited immune system deficiencies
• Blood disorders like sickle cell anemia

Much of the excitement around cord blood doesn’t come from its current uses but from what it could potentially be used for in the future. Regenerative medicine is an exciting and still-developing field that uses living cells to encourage the body's natural ability to heal itself.

While there are currently no FDA-approved uses for it in this field, cord blood has been studied in the treatment of various conditions, including:

• Cerebral palsy
• Type 1 diabetes
• Cardiovascular conditions
• Autoimmune diseases

How do I “bank” my baby’s cord blood?

If you are interested in preserving your baby’s cord blood, the first step is deciding where you want to bank it. There are two options: donate to a public bank or bank it privately. Which is better? It depends on your reasons for banking in the first place.

By banking with a private bank, you make sure your child’s cord blood is available to your family. By donating to a public bank, you make the stem cells available to others who might need a stem cell transplant requiring a donor.

Banking is such a personal choice. You can read more about the differences between private and public cord blood banking in our free cord blood banking guide .

ViaCord’s website is full of helpful information. Explore ViaCord family stories to see real-world examples of how banked cord blood has been used in stem cell transplants and studied in regenerative medicine clinical trials.