Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby is born. It is rich in stem cells, which can be used to treat many life-threatening conditions, such as leukaemia (cancer of the bone marrow), and problems with the immune system (the body’s defence system).
After a baby is born, the placenta and umbilical cord are usually thrown away. However, so that this rich source of stem cells is not wasted, the NHS Cord Blood Bank was set up in 1996 to collect, process, store and supply cord blood.
Once the cord blood has been frozen, it can be stored until a patient with a matching tissue type needs a stem cell transplant. Research has shown that units can be stored for up to 20 years.
It is free to donate cord blood after the birth of a baby. However, cord blood can only be collected in hospitals where there are dedicated, trained staff. Currently, these are:
- Barnet General Hospital
- Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow
- Luton and Dunstable Hospital
- Watford General Hospital
- St George’s Hospital, London
Donors must give their consent before their baby is born for the cord blood and placenta to be collected. Without consent, the cord blood donations will be thrown away.
If you are interested in cord blood donation, or if you want to know more, visit the NHS Cord Blood Bank website.
