Are cord blood stem cells different from other stem cells?

Yes, cord blood stem cells differ from other types of adult stem cells. Cord blood has the following advantages:

Simple and non-invasive:

• Collection and storage is simple and painless for both mother and baby
• Once cord blood has been stored it is available immediately for treatment
• There is no need to locate a compatible donor
• No invasive procedure to harvest bone marrow if required

Cord blood medical advantages:

• Cord blood stem cells are more potent than adult stem cells
• Cord blood stem cells haven’t had exposure to environmental pollutants, viruses and chemicals that happen over time

Cord blood flexibility:

• Greater flexibility in genetic matching - only a partial match between the donor and patient may be required
• Reduced risk of graft vs host disease and lower incidence of viral transmissions

A perfect match:

• Your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells are a perfect match for your child, and are more likely to be a match for siblings and family members
• The closer the match, the greater the likelihood of the body accepting the cells