cord blood services
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Cord blood services are currently split into two different types - collection and storage of cord blood for private use (operated by private companies) and donation to a public cord blood bank (operated by the public cord blood bank service). There are charges for private collection and storage; donation to the public cord blood bank is completely FREE.
Placenta/umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord following birth. It is normally discarded after birth. Research has shown that during pregnancy, cord blood is a rich source of blood stem cells, which can now be collected, processed and cryogenically stored for potential future use. Cord blood stem cells are the building blocks of the blood and immune system and have the ability to treat the same diseases as bone marrow, diseases such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia. The stem cells taken from your baby are a guaranteed match for that child. Storage therefore ensures that the stem cells are immediately available if they are ever needed for treatment. Although the probability of your child needing its own stem cells for today’s therapies is small, the future of cord blood therapy is promising. Public cord blood donations are used anonymously to treat patients with a matching type or for vital research.
Donating is completely painless and unlike donating eggs or sperm, donating cord blood won't result in any offspring being created! Cord blood collection is a simple and painless procedure. It occurs after your baby has been safely delivered and the umbilical cord has been cut. The needles or syringes used to drain the blood from the umbilical cord are never near you or your baby. The umbilical cord and placenta are usually thrown away after a baby is born. Donation does not change the birth process - the process is the same regardless of whether you give birth by c-section or vaginally.
For more information, see the following webpage from AusCord who are the national network of umbilical cord blood banks and cord blood collection centres or have a read of a recent article from our e-newsletter (see link below).
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Cord Blood - Saving Lives |
If you are considering cord blood collection (either publically or privately), please contact one of the listees below well before your due birth date to discuss arrangements.
Please note that public collection services are only available at the hospitals listed below. If your region is not listed, we are not aware of any collecting facilities in those regions. You can double check listings on the following webpage of AusCord, the national network of umbilical cord blood banks. If you are intending to give birth at a different hospital you will not be able to make a public cord blood donation. If you feel strongly about this, please add your comments to our forum - we are gathering comments to send to the relevant authorities.
Collection times and days at the above facilities may also be limited. This is due to the specialist equipment required for the correct collection and screening of cord blood. Public donations are a free service.
public donation services
BMDI Cord Blood Bank
covering: Victoria - Royal Womens Hospital, Frances Perry House, Birralee Maternity Service, Angliss Hospital ph: (03) 9345 5834
Brisbane Cord Blood Service
covering: Brisbane - Mater Mothers Hospital, Logan Hospital ph: (07) 3840 1614
Sydney Cord Blood Bank
covering: Sydney - Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Royal Hospital for Women, St George Private Hospital ph: (02) 9382 0371
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private cord blood collection services and banks
Private cord blood collection and storage services are more widely available than public donation services and collection can be made from most hospitals in major cities and some rural hospitals also. If you are interested in this service, please contact the companies below to check if collection is available in the hospital that you are due to give birth in. Charges are made for collection and storage of cord blood cells - please check costs with companies listed below by contacting them directly.
private cord blood collection services and storage banks
BioCell
covering: Australia wide ph: 1800 071 075
Cell Sense
covering: Australia wide ph: 1800 005 541
Cryosite
covering: Australia Wide ph: 1800 220 410
StemLife
covering: Australia wide ph: 1300 553 474
want to know more?
For articles, more directories of shops and services, checklists, calculators and more, visit ...
:: conception info hub:: pregnancy & birth info hub
:: baby info hub
:: toddler info hub
