The ability to treat over 80 diseases and conditions using stem cells found in the blood of the umbilical cord after it has been clamped and cut is one of the major biological breakthroughs of the 21st century. This is why so many families choose cord blood and tissue banking today.
Research and clinical trials that explore the vast potential of stem cells are increasing in breathtaking fashion. Cord blood stem cells are currently being used to treat a multitude of different diseases including blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, blood and immune system disorders like sickle-cell disease and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and many metabolic disorders.
As additional research continues, the life-saving potential of stem cells is becoming even more promising. Specifically, there are over 300 clinical trials being conducted on the application of umbilical cord tissue stem cells, and there are exciting indications that they may be of considerable use in treating debilitating conditions like heart disease, Type-1 diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, and multiple sclerosis, to name a few.
These findings have many parents wondering precisely what is the difference between cord blood and cord tissue. Let’s take a look at how they differ, and the reasons why many believe that the storage of both cord blood and cord tissue is an investment that may potentially save the life of a family member in the future.
What’s the difference between cord blood and cord tissue?
The difference between cord blood and cord tissue lies in the stem cells retrieved from each. Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells (HSC’s) while cord tissue is a resource for mesenchymal stem cells (MSC’s). Cord blood is extracted from the umbilical cord before the umbilical tissue is collected.
While the stem cells from cord blood and tissue are both collected from your baby’s umbilical cord, they are in fact different.
Cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that come from the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth. After the umbilical cord is clamped and cut following delivery, the cord blood can be collected from the umbilical cord and placenta into a sterile collection bag. There is no risk or pain to mother or baby.
Cord blood is unique in that it contains a dense amount of adult stem cells that can differentiate into different kinds of cells. These stem cells can be used to treat blood and immune system disorders, as well as certain cancers and metabolic disorders. The stem cells from cord blood can be isolated, extracted and preserved for families in case they are needed for future treatments.
Cord tissue, on the other hand, refers to the baby’s actual umbilical cord. Cord tissue is an abundant source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a different kind of stem cell than those found in cord blood. The stem cells found in cord tissue offer great promise in regenerative medicine and connective tissue disorders.
What is the difference between the stem cells in cord blood vs cord tissue?
Cord blood stem cells are routinely used in the FDA-approved treatment of over 80 conditions today and are commonly mentioned in the news. These stem cells can differentiate into any blood component to help protect the body from blood-related conditions and immune system disorders including lymphoma and leukemia.
There is a vast quantity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in umbilical cord tissue, which can differentiate into many types of cells, including organ, muscle, skin, bone, cartilage, and fat cells.
Research is growing at an incredible pace as MSCs from cord tissue are currently being used in over 300 clinical trials. They hold the promise of being able to someday treat debilitating conditions such as heart disease, Type-1 diabetes, lung cancer, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, and injuries to bones and cartilage.
Cord Blood Banking + Cord Tissue Banking
Your only opportunity to save your baby’s cord blood and cord tissue is immediately after the birth of your baby.
Cord blood has already been proven to be effective in the treatment of 80+ different conditions.
Umbilical cord tissue banking has the potential to treat a wide range of conditions through regenerative medicine, and it can be expanded many times so it can be used for multiple treatments.
MiracleCord has competitive prices and flexible payment options for preserving stem cells from cord blood and cord tissue. Payment plans start at just $79/month for 12 months.
Many people have heard about cord blood banking because the benefits of it were first discovered in 1988. The use of cord blood stem cells for treating various diseases has been FDA-approved for decades and over 35,000 cord blood transplants have occurred to date.
When conducting further research into the topic, parents may also discover the benefits of cord tissue. The stem cells in cord tissue weren’t discovered until later, and their amazing potential in regenerative medicine is still being researched.
This can lead to confusion on how cord blood and cord tissue stem cells compare and whether parents should bank one over the other or bank both.
Ultimately, saving your baby’s cord blood and cord tissue stem cells will offer your family the widest potential scope of treatment options in the future.
