You are here: Home / Archives for Stem Cell Preservation

Adult Stem Cell Preservation

November 8, 2009 By admin

Adult Stem Cell Preservation

Ask any new parent who has stored cord blood and they will be able to tell you all about storing their newborn’s umbilical cord blood for use in the future.  What happens though for people who do not have children or whose children were born before this potential life saving alternative was first offered?   There are storage banks that offer to preserve adult stem cells as well as umbical cord stem cells.adult_stem_cell_preservation

Stem cells are classified by four types of cells.  First, embryonic stem cells are from a human embryo.  Second, fetal stem which can be taken from aborted fetal tissue.   Use of both of these stem cells is very controversial, especially the embryonic stem cells.  Studies are constantly under way to see if this use is safe for the embryo.   The two more common and less riskier stem cells are third, umbilical stem cells, which are taken from the umbilical cord and the placenta, and, fourth, adult stem cells which come from bone marrow, adult peripheral blood and other body tissues.

So what are adult stem cells?  In theory all stem cells except those that come from embryos are adult stem cells.  This includes the cells found in the umbilical cord and placenta.  The difference between stem cells that come from adult peripheral blood and bone marrow vs. umbilical cord and placenta stem cells is that the latter of the two come from newborns.

So how are adult stem cells collected?  Most people know that stem cells come from bone marrow but most companies who collect and preserve adult stem cells take them from adult peripheral blood.  This collection procedure is no different than taking blood for a blood test.  In the past, a process called aphaeresis procedure was used.  This process required the artificial stimulation of stem cell production by the donor’s bone marrow by employing injections of growth stimulating hormones several days prior to the collection. This method can be very costly and have some very unpleasant side effect for some donors.

As with umbilical cord stem cells, the preservation of adult stem cells also has a cost running around $1600 or more, and in addition, there is an annual storage fee.   What the initial price generally does include is the enrollment fee, cord blood collection kit, specimen collection, express shipping, processing, testing and cryopreservation.  The storage of the cells will cost around $125 or more and as with the major cord blood banks there are payment plans available.

By storing adult stem cells, everyone now has an opportunity to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Filed Under: Stem Cell Preservation Tagged With: , , , ,

Collecting Cord Blood Stem Cells: What You MUST Know

October 7, 2009 By admin

Collecting Cord Blood Stem Cells: What You MUST Know

Stem cells are precursor cells that can differentiate into mature and specialized adult cells of different types. Stem cells are very helpful in the treatment of various diseases of blood and immune system origin, including many cancers.Collecting Cord Blood Stem Cells Need To Know

Adult stem cells can be obtained from bone marrow and from the cord blood (blood in the umbilical cord at the time of delivery of the child) and the placenta (sac that holds the baby during pregnancy). The obtained cord blood and the placenta is then processed and preserved in liquid nitrogen to be used if the need arises at any point of time. The stored stem cells remain viable once preserved, for over 20 years.

Collecting the cord blood stem cells for preservation has to be planned well in advance before the delivery of the child. A stem cell bank is identified that is close to the place where the delivery is supposed to happen (unless courier service is arranged). Once such a bank has been found and all the initial formalities are completed, the cord blood bank must be contacted close to the time of the delivery (around 48 hours before) when blood from the mother is drawn and sent to test for any communicable diseases that may be present.

Collecting the cord blood stem cells is performed by the doctors delivering of the child. It is important to collect a sufficient amount of cord blood (around 75 ml at least) for it to contain an adequate amount of stem cells for preservation. The procedure of collecting the cord blood stem cells is conducted when the umbilical vein is still pulsating.

A special collection bag designed for the purpose of collecting the cord blood stem cells is used for this purpose. This bag has a connected needle at one end that is inserted into the umbilical vein, and the bag is lowered down to allow the cord blood to flow into the bag. This is held in place until enough blood has been collected in the bag. If the blood flow stops before adequate collection is complete, the needle is removed and re-inserted to resume the blood flow until the cord is totally devoid of any more blood after which the needle is removed.

Once the collection of the cord blood stem cells and the placenta is completed, the specialized containers are then transported in exact temperature conditions suited for this purpose to the cell bank where they are disinfected, processed, preservative added and then slowly cooled to reach a temperature of -190 degrees Celsius at which it is stored.

Collecting the cord blood stem cells is a very simple procedure that takes just around 2-5 minutes, but it is very important for the professional handling the cord blood to take care that they don’t contaminate the specimen as it may affect the viability and storage of the stem cells.

Filed Under: Collecting Cord Blood Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Stem Cell Preservation 101

September 11, 2009 By admin

Stem Cell Preservation 101

Stem cells are precursor cells which mean they are primary cells that can differentiate to form mature or adult cells of different types. In humans, there are two types of stem cells:

• Embryonic stem cells- are found in an embryo and later differentiate into different forms of tissues as the embryo develops.
• Adult stem cells- are found in adult tissue which differentiate and help in replacing dead cells in the body.

The stem cells, because they have the capacity of forming new cells, are used in treating many diseases, some of which had no cure in earlier times. In today’s world, as many as 70 different diseases can be treated by the help of stem cells. Some of the diseases that can be treated with stem cells include many cancers, blood disorders, metabolic disorders, stem cell disorders, etc.Stem Cell Preservation 101

Sometimes the use of embryonic stem cells is widely opposed when it involves the destruction of the embryo. For these reasons, adult stem cells are the ones that are utilized in treating various conditions. Adult stem cells can be obtained from bone marrow or from cord blood (the blood that is found in the umbilical cord just after the delivery of the child) and from the placenta. These stem cells can not only be used to treat conditions that arise in the child but can also be used to treat some conditions that occur in other siblings, parents, other relatives and in some cases even unrelated people.

Cord blood and the placenta contain stem cells that are similar to stem cells found in bone marrow. Obtaining the cord blood and placenta is a one time opportunity that can be collected only at the time of delivery of a child and can be processed and preserved by keeping them in liquid nitrogen.

Stem cell preservation has to be planned much prior to delivery of the child. There are many cell banks that have been established to undertake this process and store and preserve the cells such that they are viable and useful for therapy, if the need arises at a later point of time.

Once a cord blood bank has been chosen for stem cell preservation, all the formalities for collection at birth should be completed beforehand. Just before delivery, two test tubes of blood are drawn from the mother and sent for testing for any communicable diseases. At the time of delivery, the doctor extracts the cord blood (around 75-100ml) and the placenta and sends the cord blood to the cord blood bank in special collection bags designed for this purpose.

Once the cord blood and the placenta reach the cell bank, it is disinfected, processed and a cryopreservative is added. Some cord blood banks utilize a method of separating the red blood cells in the cord blood while some don’t.

Once these processes are complete, the stem cells are tested for their viability by performing tests. The stem cell preservation is then begun by slow cooling first to around -90 degrees and then placed in liquid nitrogen where the temperature is maintained at -190 degrees Celsius. The viability of the cells will be lost if they are cooled too rapidly.

This is the method in which stem cell preservation is conducted, and preserved stem cells can be later taken if needed for therapy at any point in time. This process even though costly at this time is insurance that can store stem cells to fall back on if the need for future therapy arises.

Filed Under: Stem Cell Preservation Tagged With: , , ,

Stem Cell Preservation: Why Is It Important?

August 25, 2009 By admin

Stem Cell Preservation: Why Is It Important?

Stem Cells are referred to as progenitor cells meaning that they form the origin for different forms of adult cells. A broad classification of stem cells can be made into two types:

• Embryonic stem cells are found in a budding embryo and help in forming tissues as they differentiate.
• Adult stem cells are mainly repair cells that help in repair and regeneration of lost cells.

The capacity of stem cells to differentiate into adult cells have been utilized in modern day medicine to control and cure diseases, many of which were thought incurable a few years ago. Stem cells have helped in generating a cure for an astonishing 70 diseases and the list is growing every day.Stem Cell Preservation Why Important

There is controversy and opposition from several quarters to the use of embryonic stems cells, both for therapy as well as for scientific purposes. This is because to isolate the embryonic stem cells, the embryo may have to be destroyed. For this reason, adult stem cells are preferred for use. These are harvested either through the bone marrow or from blood drawn through the umbilical cord during child birth. The placenta is another source for the stem cells.

These days due to the advent of newer methods of therapy using stem cells, there are many stem cell banks that have emerged all over the world which deal in stem cell preservation. There are many public and private cord blood banks available. Public cord blood banks do not preserve the stem cells for the particular person from whom they are being derived but hold it for public use, as in organ banks. A private cord blood bank performs stem cell preservation for the use of the family undertaking this service, for a particular fee.

The cord blood and the placenta that is available during the delivery of a child contains viable stem cells if the collected blood is of an adequate quantity (about 75ml at least). This collection is performed by the medical team involved in the child delivery and sent by prior arrangement in a specialized bag to the cord blood bank for processing and stem cell preservation.

Once the bags containing the blood and the placenta reach the cord blood bank, they undergo various processes for disinfection, processing to obtain the stem cells, and addition of a cryopreservative to help the stem cells remain viable. The processing of the cord blood is done either by a separation of red blood cells or by keeping them intact with the specimen.

The blood derived from the mother before delivery and the cord blood are both tested for the presence of communicable diseases. After the preservative is added, the process of stem cell preservation is begun by a slow cooling process which is necessary to maintain the stem cells intact. This slow cooling is performed by maintaining the temperature first at -90 degrees and then slowly to -190 degrees by placing the stem cells in liquid nitrogen.

The stem cell preservation in liquid nitrogen helps cells remain useful for therapy in the future. This process of stem cell preservation not only helps the individual to fight some disorder if it arises, but it also helps other members in the family too if they need the stem cells for therapy.

Filed Under: Stem Cell Preservation Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Stem Cell Preservation: Behind the Controversy

July 23, 2009 By admin

Stem Cell Preservation: Behind the Controversy

Currently there are 70 diseases that are treatable with stem cells. A generation ago or a decade ago, these diseases presented a poor prognosis for those diagnosed with them. Today, there is hope in stem cell preservation and stem cell research, but stem cell research is a controversial topic and an end to the debate is nowhere in sight. So what exactly is at debate? Why are emotions so torn when stem cell preservation could save lives?Stem Cell Preservation Controversy

There are two types of stem cells: adult and embryonic. Adult stem cells can be found in the bone marrow of the adult. Harvesting and preserving adult stem cells are not controversial. Instead, people embrace this research and look to it with hope. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, present a host of ethical concerns and issues sometimes disturbing the public.

Why? While it’s true that stem cells can be harvested from the umbilical cord, these stem cells are adult stem cells. In order to harvest embryonic stem cells, an in vitro procedure is performed which ultimately destroys the embryo and all chances for its survival. This lethal procedure is what is at the heart of the stem cell preservation debate. So why don’t scientists concentrate on harvesting adult stem cells and leave the embryonic ones alone?

Adult Stem Cells vs. Embryonic Stem Cells
Not all stem cells are created equal. There are actually three classifications of stem cells each with its own healing powers. For the purpose of this article, we are going to focus on two such classifications.

Embryonic stem cells are the most commonly used stem cells. Why? They are totipotent meaning that they are able to reproduce every type of cell found in the body. They are even capable of forming and entire organism. These cells are the miraculous life savers that offer the most hope to patients dying of certain diseases. Embryonic stem cells also inhibit the body’s immune response which means that there is less chance of rejection after a transplant.

Adult stem cells are multipotent which means that they are able to reproduce only a limited number of cell types. This means that their use in finding certain cures is limited. They are also difficult to harvest and pose many concerns including rejection.

There is no doubt that embryonic stem cell preservation can save lives, but is it at the cost of a human life. Granted, harvesting of stem cells occurs when the embryo is still a collection of cells.  But then the debate rages. When does life begin?

Filed Under: Stem Cell Preservation Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Cord Blood Storage: Medical Cure on Ice

June 21, 2009 By admin

Cord Blood Storage: Medical Cure on Ice

There are mixed opinions about cord blood because of the media attention on stem cell research and treatment.  Important issues of ethics, genetic disorders associated with family history and ethnicity surface in discussions about stem cell cord blood.

When harvesting cord blood donations to be stored, the recipient’s compatibility is an essential part of equation.

Cord Blood Storage Medical CureThe ease of obtaining cord blood as opposed to bone marrow makes it convenient. This makes it more readily available for the cord blood donor than the bone marrow donor and makes the process of retrieving easier.

Cord blood storage benefits all races and ethnic groups.  The most important advantage in storing cord blood is the availability at the time when someone’s life needs to be saved. Cord blood that is already stored at the cord blood bank may be used for transplants and to help treat some diseases.

There is no pain associated with umbilical cord blood collecting to either mother or child.  Due to the compatibility of cord blood cell to family members, cord blood storage is becoming more widely used.

Some cord blood storage banks run by private companies charge thousands of dollars to hold the umbilical cord blood and a fee up to $150 for annual maintenance.

Some private cord blood storage companies also charge for the cord blood collection kit, charge to have a courier pick it up and charge the initial processing procedure at the storage facility.

Cord blood storage addresses the possible need and continued demand for help in treating diseases and as an additional method of saving lives. In cases of emergencies, cord blood storage facilities may be the saving grace of many people seeking treatment. Although doctors are at the beginning stages of experience with stem cells, some have begun to look to cord blood storage facilities for help.

Cord blood storage banks are required to store blood in vials or in bags. This storage method is important to keep the blood safe from contamination. Cord blood storage banks also can help viability by placing cord blood in smaller quantities or samples to make specimens available to more people.

Cord blood storage provides a quicker way to get help for patients who are in poor health conditions. These cord blood storage facilities can store blood long-term.  Preservation of the cord blood sample is important to the cord blood storage and so professional care is taken to make sure that it is stored properly.

Filed Under: Cord Blood Storage Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Cord Blood Storage: Should You Do It?

June 13, 2009 By admin

Cord Blood Storage: Should You Do It?

Cord blood storage is a controversial topic with intelligent, informed opponents on both sides of the debate. This debate makes it very difficult for parents to make an informed decision regarding their own baby’s cord blood. Should you store your baby’s cord blood as a protection against future diseases, or is the process overly encouraged by medical researchers and the media?

Cord Blood Storage Should You Do ItWhile no one can tell you to invest in cord blood storage or not to, you owe it to yourself to know all the facts before you pass on the opportunity. Here are some key facts that will help you make an informed decision:

• Thousands upon thousands of stem cell transplants are performed each year on patients using their own cord blood. Diseases treated with cord blood include many types of cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and tumors. Thousands more transplants are performed on family members using a relative’s cord blood.

• There is a 1 in 435 chance that your baby will need his or her own cord blood within his/her lifetime. There is a 1 in 400 chance that a family member will benefit from a relative’s cord blood storage. Keep in mind that this is the current likelihood. As more research is performed, more uses for stem cells will be developed.

• One in 630 children will develop cancer before they reach the age of fifteen.

• New studies have shown a wide range of use for cord blood and stem cells. In fact, many researchers believe that stem cells can be used to reverse brain damage sustained in a stroke or traumatic accident.

If there are so many advantages associated with cord blood storage, why aren’t more people doing it? There simply are not enough public banks to accept donations and private banks have a cost. Cord blood storage involves long-term cold storage, and there aren’t enough facilities offering this type of storage to accommodate all cord blood banking requests. In fact, only 30% of cord blood that qualifies for banking actually gets banked due to limited space and resources.

At the end of the day, you owe it to yourself to investigate all of the facts and opportunities available to you regarding cord blood storage. Research cord blood banks and make an informed decision after all of the facts are in.

Filed Under: Cord Blood Storage Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Cord Blood Storage: Protection for the Future

May 11, 2009 By admin

Cord Blood Storage: Protection for the Future

If you are in the process of trying to preserve your child’s umbilical cord blood, you need to know how effective these methods are and how stem cells are preserved. Cord blood storage is a costly procedure, so finding out details before you proceed is important.Cord Blood Storage Protection For Future

In the process of cold blood storage, the umbilical cord blood is stored in a special bag or a syringe and taken to a blood bank. The health professional will then label the bag or syringe with the donor’s name, birth date and any other relevant facts. The blood is then assigned a registration number to identify it. After that the umbilical cord blood is sent to a processing laboratory to undergo a cryopreservation process.

At the storage lab, the blood temperature is reduced slowly so that it does not go into temperature shock. The reduction will read no less than -190 degrees. After the temperature of the umbilical cord blood is reduced, the blood then goes to a liquid nitrogen tank to keep the temperature steadily at -190 degrees.  As long as the cord blood is stored and preserved correctly in these different forms of storages, it can potentially last forever.

If you donate the umbilical cord blood to a public bank, the stem cells may be used for saving the lives of others. This storage will cost you nothing, and it may save a life because doctors and researchers can pull from these banks to find cures and treat patients in need. But, however, there is a shortage of public cord blood banks. Most facilities are at their capacity and many donors are turned away because there just isn’t any room or resources to store more cord blood. More funding is desperately needed so that research and storage can be expanded.

Filed Under: Cord Blood Storage Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
Newer Posts »