Cord Blood Developments

Group B streptococcus (group B strep, or GBS) is a type of bacterium that a pregnant woman may be carrying and that could ultimately be transferred to the baby during delivery. Up to 40 percent of pregnant women carry Strep B bacteria, which can come and go without symptoms from a person’s body. Newborns are at an increased risk for group B strep disease when the mother is found to have GBS colonization.

There are a number of clinical trials and scientific studies underway testing the effectiveness of cord blood and cord tissue in the treatment of various conditions. The various kinds and phases of these studies can be a bit confusing but, basically, show progress toward full FDA approval. Here's your Cliff’s notes on clinical trials:

The glucose tolerance test takes approx. one hour and is performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you have risk factors for gestational diabetes, the test may be performed in the first trimester. The glucose tolerance test is done to evaluate your body's ability to process sugars during pregnancy. Listed below are the proper steps and precautions that need to be taken in order to ensure the test results are valid.

From Peyton Manning reportedly flying to Germany in 2011 for a bulging disk in his neck to Drew Pomeranz receiving an injection in his elbow earlier this year, many have been taking leaps of faith with stem cells treatments outside approved channels. And controversy has followed.

AABB, CLIA, etc. It can all be a bit much, but they are more than just a bunch of letters. Here is the rundown: All cord blood banks need to be FDA-registered, which means all cord blood banks need to have or use a lab that is cGTP-compliant. To get easier access to treatments for not only the baby but also other relatives, the lab must be CLIA-compliant as well. New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Maryland also require licensure in in order to conduct business in and with residents of those states. If you want a cord blood bank that has gone the extra mile to ensure the highest standards and protocols look for accreditation by AABB and FACT and cGMP compliance.

Pregnancy is no easy task. There’s a lot to do, and a lot to deal with. One of the more time-consuming aspects is all the research that needs to be performed on everything from the best car seat to the right pediatrician. Cord blood banking is a hurdle upon itself. Often expectant parents need to learn what cord blood banking is and why cord blood banking is important, and then it’s time to determine which cord blood bank is best for them.

While we may focus on stem cells quite a lot, other parts of cord blood are showing promise for the treatment of disease. With the ease of collecting and cryo-preserving cord blood natural killer cells, they could be used in the future to greatly enhance the treatment of tumors and cancers.

The term stem cell may conjure up some rare type of cell that can only be found in very specific locations. The opposite is really true. Stem cells are pretty ubiquitous; however, this doesn't mean they can easily be harvested for transplantation and regenerative medicine. It’s the volume and the age of stem cells that are the main driving factors in if they can be collected for regenerative medicine.

Blood banks including cord blood banks use anti-coagulants in their collection bags to combat the coagulation of blood and supply the cells inside with nourishment. While there are a number of different anti-coagulants available, most cord blood banks use one of two: CPD or heparin. Let's look at how they compare.

You'll hear a lot about stem cells when learning about cord blood banking, but you may also come across the term Tregs, too. While a Treg may not be able to do all the things that a cord blood stem cell can do, it does offer distinct opportunities in regenerative medicine. Just like cord blood stem cells, Tregs are found in the umbilical cord after birth and are part of what is preserved when cord blood banking. Let's take a look at these cells.