What is the benefit of cord blood banking?

Cord blood, which contains powerful stem cells, comes from a newborn’s umbilical cord and is collected immediately after birth. Once the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, the remaining blood in the umbilical cord is drawn into a collection bag. What makes cord blood cells different? Cord blood stem cells are biologically younger and are more flexible compared to adult stem cells from other sources like bone marrow. When saved, they have unique qualities and advantages:
Less risk of complications when used in transplants39
Ability to use one’s own stem cells for conditions that currently lack medical treatment options, also known as “autologous transplantation”
Immediately available and can minimize disease progression in early treatment40
Preserving them "stops the clock" and protects the cells from aging and being exposed to environmental factors and common viruses that can decrease their function41
Comparison of Stem Cell Sources Newborn Adult Embryonic
Ability to differentiate into various cell types ✓ ✓ ✓
High proliferation capacity ✓ ✓
Low risk of tumor formation ✓ ✓
Low risk of viral contamination ✓ ✓
Capacity for autologous transplantation ✓ ✓
Established/proven treatment in human patients ✓ ✓ Stem cells can heal the body, promote recovery, and offer an enormous amount of therapeutic potential. Learn about families who have used their stem cells here.