Question 1

What is cord blood?

Accepted Answer

Cord blood is the excess blood found in the placenta and umbilical cord after your baby is born. It is rich in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that produce blood tissue in the human body.

If not collected at the time of your baby's birth, this precious resource will be discarded as medical waste. Learn more about cord blood

Question 2

What are cord blood stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Stem cells from cord blood are the "building blocks" of our blood and immune systems. They are capable of self-renewal and regeneration and have the amazing ability to repair and rebuild damaged tissue within the body.

Question 3

What diseases are treated with cord blood stem cells?

Accepted Answer

80 diseases and conditions are routinely being treated with cord blood stem cells, including leukemia, lymphoma, various anemias and more.

Current research in regenerative medicine has shown successful results in treating diabetes, cerebral palsy, autism, spinal cord injuries and heart disease

.

The potential for future treatments using cord blood stem cells appears to be infinite.

Question 4

What are the chances of my family ever needing stem cells?

Accepted Answer

It is estimated that as many as 1 in 3 people in the United States may benefit from stem cell regenerative medicine therapy, including treatments for type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, stroke, heart failure, liver damage, Alzheimer's, and more.

Question 5

Would doctors ever treat my baby using his/her own cord blood?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cerebral palsy, autism and many lymphomas, sarcomas and tumors have successfully been treated using a patient's own cord blood stem cells.

There are, however, some conditions for which doctors will prefer to use stem cells from a related donor such as a sibling or child. As such, it is recommended that you bank cord blood for each of your children.

Question 6

Can cord blood stem cells be used to treat adults?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Scientists have developed a method to expand the number of stem cells within a cord blood unit before infusing them into adult patients.

Expanded cord blood units result in up to a 164-fold increase in the number of hematopoietic stem cells, making one cord blood unit suitable for transplant in an average size adult.

Question 7

What is HLA matching?

Accepted Answer

HLA, or human leukocyte antigens, are the proteins that control tissue compatibility. The closer the match, the less risk of a potentially fatal condition called GVHD, or graft-versus-host disease (also known as "rejection").

There is no risk of GVHD when a child receives his or her own cord blood. Within a family, there is a high probability of cord blood matching a sibling or parent, thereby significantly reducing the risk of GVHD.

Outside of the family, the situation is much different. HLA antigens are highly polymorphic, with hundreds of different HLA antigens found in the human population (roughly 750,000 possible combinations of three HLA antigens alone).

Your best chance of providing a match for your family is to bank your baby's own cord blood.

Question 8

What is GVHD?

Accepted Answer

GVHD, or graft-versus-host disease, is the leading cause of death following transplant surgery. Nearly 50% of all patients who develop GVHD will die as a result.

GVHD occurs when the healthy cells of the donor tissue attack the immunocompromised cells of the recipient.

The risk of GVHD is directly related to tissue compatibility and the biological relationship of the donor to the recipient, which is described in terms of HLA matching.

Siblings and parents of the child that the stem cells came from will have the greatest chance of a perfect or close HLA match. The closer the HLA match, the lower your risk of GVHD.

Question 9

Is there a greater risk of GVHD with stem cells from bone marrow?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The risk and severity of GVHD is much higher with stem cells from bone marrow.

In addition, cells from bone marrow are more likely to have been exposed to latent diseases and DNA degradation.

Question 10

Are embryonic stem cells different than cord blood stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cord blood stem cells are distinctively different from embryonic stem cells.

Cord blood stem cells are collected from the umbilical cord after your baby is born, and if not saved are discarded as medical waste. There are no ethical oppositions to the use of cord blood stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells are derived from a process that inhibits the life of the embryo, which make them highly controversial.

Question 11

Is treatment with cord blood stem cells considered "experimental"?

Accepted Answer

No. After more than three decades and greater than 35,000 cord blood transplants, the use of cord blood stem cells is considered standard therapy in the treatment of more than 80 diseases and conditions.

Question 12

How will cord blood stem cells be used in the future?

Accepted Answer

The field of stem cell therapy is growing rapidly, and the future potential is unlimited.

Current studies are evaluating the effects of using cord blood stem cells to treat diabetes, cerebral palsy, autism, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, and more. Scientists are also using cord blood stem cells to stimulate lung development in premature babies.

Saving your baby's cord blood gives your family the security of being able to take advantage of future advances in stem cell treatments.

Question 13

What is cord tissue?

Accepted Answer

Cord tissue is the actual umbilical cord and the cells contained within. It is an abundent source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). Learn more about cord tissue

Question 14

What are cord tissue stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Cord tissue stem cells, or Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), are the building blocks of the body's skeletal and connective tissues. They have also shown the ability to differentiate into coronary tissue, hepatic tissue and more.

Question 15

What is the difference between cord blood stem cells and cord tissue stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Cord blood and cord tissue yield two vastly different types of stem cells that can potentially be used to treat different diseases and conditions within the body.

Cord blood stem cells are called Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs). The primary focus in research with HSCs has been on blood and immune system disorders.

The stem cells derived from cord tissue are called Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Researchers have focused their efforts on connective tissue disorders and regenerative medicine with this kind of stem cell.

Saving both cord blood and cord tissue will provide your family with the widest potential scope of treatment options. Learn more.

Question 16

How will cord tissue stem cells be used?

Accepted Answer

Cord tissue stem cells (MSCs) represent the most advanced, cutting-edge discoveries in regenerative medicine today.

With over 300 MSC clinical trials in progress, scientists predict an explosion of new therapies will emerge, including routine treatments for diabetes, multiple sclerosis, stroke, heart failure, cirrhosis, bone fractures, autoimmune diseases and many more.

Question 17

Can my baby's cord tissue MSCs be used to treat other family members?

Accepted Answer

MSCs are considered to be immunoprivileged so they can potentially be used to treat an immediate family member with little risk of transplant rejection or GVHD.

Question 18

Can my family get cord tissue stem cells from a public cord blood bank?

Accepted Answer

No. Currently, there are no public cord blood banks that will collect, process and store MSCs for future transplantation.

Question 19

Can cord tissue stem cells be used to treat adults?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cord tissue stem cells can be expanded, which multiplies the number of viable stem cells to doses that are suitable for an adult transplant.

Question 20

Should I bank my baby's cord blood if my family has no history of cancer?

Accepted Answer

While cord blood stem cells have proven effective in treating many types of cancers, they have also been used to successfully treat many diseases and conditions unrelated to cancer.

A family history of cancer or other diseases may not be known, but families who save their baby's cord blood understand that these conditions can occur without precedent and without warning.

Question 21

How long can cord blood stem cells be stored?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that cord blood specimens that have been cryogenically preserved for a period of 26 years have the exact same biological composition as they did at the time of their initial preservation.

All available scientific data suggests that cord blood stored at a constant temperature of -196 degrees Celsius should remain viable indefinitely.

Question 22

I've already saved one child's cord blood. Is it important to save cord blood for all of my children?

Accepted Answer

Yes, because each baby's cord blood is an exact genetic match for that child and offers the very best chance of survival, with no risk of GVHD, should they need a stem cell transplant in the future.

Also, in the event that a doctor recommends a donor cord blood transplant, siblings are the preferred source.

Lastly, there is approximately a 1-in-4 chance of parents being a match to each child's cord blood. Storing for multiple children increases the chance of a match being available for parents.

Separate storage is also recommended for multiple births (e.g., twins, triplets), as it maximizes the volume of cord blood collected.

Question 23

Can I get stem cells from a public bank if my family needs a transplant in the future?

Accepted Answer

Possibly, but 80% of all publicly donated cord blood samples are not stored for future transplantation1, so the odds of finding an unrelated HLA match from a public bank are very small.

When faced with a life-threatening disease or condition, you want to give your family the best chance of survival. Using your baby's own cord blood stem cells guarantees a perfect genetic match.

When a donor transplant is recommended, siblings are the preferred donor source due to their likelihood of being a suitable HLA match.

Privately banking your baby's cord blood and cord tissue with MiracleCord ensures that your family will have this valuable resource available for transplant very quickly, without the costly, time-consuming and potentially unsuccessful search that is necessary when looking to a public bank.

Question 24

What is the difference between public donation and private banking?

Accepted Answer

Public banks store unrelated cord blood units from donors. There is no initial cost to the donor; however, retrieving a cord blood unit from a public bank currently costs patients approximately $50,000, and this is often at a time when family finances are already strained.

The unfortunate reality is that 80% of all donated cord blood samples will never be stored for future transplant. The chance of finding a donor match from a public bank is very low.

Private banks store cord blood units for your family's future use. Private cord blood banking ensures that your baby's cord blood stem cells will be readily available, and will give your family the best chance for survival if a transplant is needed.

Question 25

Do any states have legislation related to cord blood banking?

Accepted Answer

Yes, 28 states in the U.S. have enacted legislation that either encourages or mandates health care professionals to provide objective information on cord blood banking to expecting parents.

Many of these states have adopted the recommendations that the Institute of Medicine made to Congress in 2005.

Question 26

Will insurance cover cord blood banking?

Accepted Answer

Possibly. Depending on the terms of your individual or group policy, cord blood banking may be a covered service. Please contact your benefits administrator or insurance company for determination.

Question 27

How soon should I enroll?

Accepted Answer

Though the decision to bank your baby's cord blood can be made any time before the birth of your baby, planning ahead has many advantages.

Early enrollment ensures that your family has plenty of time to receive your MiracleCord StemCare® thermal collection kit and to review the information provided within.

Since half of all babies are delivered prior to their expected due date, and 12% of all babies are born premature, families who enroll early avoid the risk of missing their only opportunity to bank their baby's cord blood.

Question 28

How are cord blood and cord tissue collected?

Accepted Answer

Cord blood and cord tissue collection is simple, painless and poses no risk to mother or baby.

After the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, your doctor will sanitize a small section of the cord and insert the collection bag needle. The excess blood that had remained in the placenta and umbilical cord after your baby's birth will flow into the collection bag by gravity. When the flow stops, the collection bag is sealed, labeled and ready for transport to the laboratory.

If you have also chosen to save your baby's cord tissue, your doctor will then cut a 6 to 8 inch segment of the umbilical cord and place it inside the cord tissue collection container.

Four small vials of the mother's blood will also be drawn and sent to our laboratory with the cord blood and cord tissue units.

Question 29

Is the process safe for my baby?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There is no risk or pain to mother or baby.

The collection process occurs after your baby is born and the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut. It does not interfere with the delivery or care of your newborn.

Question 30

What is Cord Blood 2.0?

Accepted Answer

Cord Blood 2.0™ is a marketing term used by Americord®. Their claims that they can collect up to twice as many stem cells as other cord blood banks are completely unfounded and unfortunately can be very misleading to expecting parents.

MiracleCord and Americord both use the exact same FDA approved, sterile cord blood collection bag manufactured by Pall Corporation.

All other conditions being equal (gestation period, birth weight, delayed cord clamping and collecting doctor's skill level, to name a few), the amount of cord blood that can be collected using MiracleCord's StemCare® cord blood collection kit and Americord's collection kit will be identical.

Compare Americord's services and pricing with MiracleCord.

Question 31

If delayed cord clamping is part of my birth plan, can my baby's cord blood be collected and banked?

Accepted Answer

Yes, however in order to achieve best results with cord blood banking, it is recommended that you ask your doctor/midwife to limit the delayed cord clamping to a maximum time of 30-60 seconds after birth. Learn more.

Question 32

What if I have a C-section?

Accepted Answer

Your MiracleCord StemCare® collection kit includes an FDA approved sterile cord blood collection bag that is safe for use in the sterile field, should you deliver by C-section.

Question 33

Does MiracleCord use Heparin in any collection materials?

Accepted Answer

No. MiracleCord's collection materials are Heparin-free.

The FDA-approved cord blood collection bag used by MiracleCord contains the anticoagulant Citrate Phosphate Dextrose (CDP).Learn more.

Question 34

Will my baby's cord blood be collected in a bag or a vial?

Accepted Answer

MiracleCord's StemCare® collection kit utilizes an FDA approved, sterile cord blood collection bag.

Question 35

How do I get a MiracleCord StemCare cord blood and cord tissue collection kit?

Accepted Answer

Your MiracleCord StemCare® thermal collection kit will be sent to you as soon as you enroll.

Click here to Enroll Online, or call 888-743-2673 and our customer service representatives will be happy to assist you.

Question 36

What is TimeCritical processing?

Accepted Answer

Any delay until processing your baby's cord blood and cord tissue can result in a significant loss of viable stem cells.

Studies have shown that cord blood processed within 12 hours of collection yields considerably more viable stem cells.

Nearly half of the stem cells collected lose their viability when cord blood is processed 24 hours after collection.

MiracleCord has the unique ability to process your baby's cord blood and cord tissue within 12 hours of collection with our exclusive TimeCritical® processing.

Question 37

How will my baby's cord blood and cord tissue get to MiracleCord's laboratory?

Accepted Answer

Shortly after your baby's cord blood and cord tissue have been collected, call 888-917-7447 to let us know your StemCare® collection kit is ready for pick up.

Our direct medical courier service is available 24/7/365 to retrieve your baby's specimens from your hospital room and deliver them safely to our laboratory for processing.

Question 38

How is MiracleCord's direct medical courier service different?

Accepted Answer

MiracleCord only uses a direct medical courier service that will not transfer custody of your baby's cord blood and cord tissue to a conventional shipping carrier.

Many companies that advertise the use of a medical courier service will have the medical courier drop-off your baby's specimens at a FedEx® or UPS® location near your birthing facility, and the conventional shipping company will then handle the transport to their lab.

Conventional shipping carriers such as FedEx and UPS are not temperature-controlled and could delay cord blood processing by 48 hours or more. Both factors can result in a significant loss of stem cell viability.

Question 39

Should my baby's cord blood and cord tissue be refrigerated after collection?

Accepted Answer

No. Cord blood and cord tissue should be kept at room temperature from the time of collection until the time the specimens are processed at our laboratory.

Exposure to high or low temperatures can result in a significant loss of stem cell viability.

The combination of MiracleCord's specially designed StemCare® collection kit with built-in thermal stabilizers, and the utilization of our direct medical courier service ensures that your baby's cord blood and cord tissue will be kept at a consistent temperature from your hospital room to our laboratory.

Question 40

Will my doctor charge a fee for the collection process?

Accepted Answer

Some doctors charge a small fee for the cord blood and cord tissue collection procedure, which may be covered by your insurance company.

Question 41

How long has MiracleCord's laboratory been processing cord blood?

Accepted Answer

MiracleCord's state-of-the-art laboratory facilities have been processing and storing cord blood for more than 20 years.

Question 42

Is MiracleCord's laboratory AABB accredited for cord blood banking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The AABB is an international association of blood banks that sets the standards for cellular therapy, tissue transplantation and stem cell processing and storage.

Additionally, the AABB works closely with the FDA to provide technical guidance for the development of blood regulations.

A lab facility that has received AABB accreditation for banking cord blood ensures that they adhere to the industry's most stringent standards for processing and storing cord blood stem cells.

Question 43

Are MiracleCord's laboratory facilities licensed in all of the contiguous United States?

Accepted Answer

Yes. MiracleCord's laboratory facilities are licensed in all of the lower 48 contiguous United States that require licensing.

Question 44

How will I know that my baby's cord blood and cord tissue have been processed?

Accepted Answer

Within one week of your baby's date of birth MiracleCord will send an email to you confirming your baby's stem cells have been processed and are safely stored.

Your MiracleCord Certificate of Storage with a comprehensive laboratory report documenting the details of your baby's cord blood and cord tissue specimens will be available for download approximately 30 days after your baby's birth.

Question 45

Does MiracleCord perform all required testing on cord blood, cord tissue and maternal blood?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The AABB and FDA require several clinical tests to be performed on cord blood, cord tissue and maternal blood at the time of initial processing.

Some cord blood banks forego critical testing procedures that may ultimately limit your family's ability to use your baby's stem cells in the future. Without these tests, the FDA may restrict your child's stem cells from being released and used for transplant.

MiracleCord performs all required testing during initial processing to ensure compliance with AABB standards and FDA guidelines.

Question 46

What happens if my family needs my baby's cord blood or cord tissue for a stem cell transplant?

Accepted Answer

MiracleCord can cryogenically ship your baby's cord blood and cord tissue unit to a transplant facility anywhere in the world when it is needed.

Your baby's cord blood and cord tissue stem cells can be prepared and ready for shipment very quickly.

When your child's stem cells are needed for a transplant, please call us at 888-743-2673, and we will guide you through the process.

Question 47

How is MiracleCord different from other cord blood banks?

Accepted Answer

Choosing MiracleCord means your family will receive superior quality and exceptional value.

Question 48

Why doesn't MiracleCord offer placenta tissue banking?

Accepted Answer

No reputable cord blood banks offer placenta tissue banking.

This is because the stem cells derived from the placenta tissue (mesenchymal stem cells, also known as MSC's) are identical to those that come from cord tissue.

MSC's from cord tissue can be expanded by thousands of times, providing a virtually unlimited supply of these stem cells, therefore placental tissue banking provides no additional benefit whatsoever.

Question 49

Does MiracleCord use a direct medical courier service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. MiracleCord only uses a direct medical courier service to transport your baby's cord blood and cord tissue.

Our medical courier partner will not transfer custody of your baby's specimens to a commercial shipping carrier such as UPS® or FedEx®.

Each unit is carefully transported from your hospital room to our laboratory in a temperature-controlled environment by experts trained in the handling of biological tissue.

MiracleCord includes direct medical courier service with every plan, at no additional cost to you.

Question 50

How much time will it take for my baby's cord blood to get to the lab?

Accepted Answer

MiracleCord has the unique ability to begin processing umbilical cord blood and cord tissue specimens within 12 hours after collection, which ensures the highest margin of stem cell viability.

Question 51

How much does cord blood and cord tissue banking cost?

Accepted Answer

MiracleCord provides the highest quality cord blood and cord tissue banking services to families at affordable prices.

MiracleCord plans are all-inclusive with no hidden fees or additional charges.

Click here to view our pricing and payment plan options.

Question 52

Is it too late in my pregnancy to enroll?

Accepted Answer

No. You can enroll any time before your baby is born.

Note: Since 50% of all babies are born before their due date and 12% are born premature, it is recommended that you enroll early.

Question 53

How do I enroll with MiracleCord?

Accepted Answer

You may enroll online or by phone. It is a simple process that only takes a few minutes.

If you wish to enroll online, click here and complete the online form.
If you prefer to enroll by phone, please call 888-743-2673 and our Customer Service Professionals will be happy to assist you.

Question 54

How many cord blood units has MiracleCord's laboratory released for transplant?

Accepted Answer

Over 100 cord blood units that were processed and stored at our laboratory facilities have been released for transplant. All of the units were viable and engrafted successfully.

Question 55

Is MiracleCord financially stable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. MiracleCord is a debt-free, profitable, privately held corporation with a long history of fiscal stability.

Cord Blood Banking FAQs

FAQs

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