Umbilical Cord Blood

Umbilical cord blood can be used for bone marrow transplantation especially in patients (mainly children) who do not have a suitable bone marrow donor.

The Belfast Cord Blood Bank is organised by the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) as an extension of the Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

Why a Cord Blood Bank?

· Cord Blood can save lives
· Cord Blood is extra and not needed by mother and baby
· Cord Blood collection is harmless to mother and baby
· Cord Blood can be stored long-term
· Cord Blood can be ready ‘off the shelf’ to treat patients without delay

What is Cord Blood?

Cord Blood is the remaining blood in the umbilical cord and afterbirth when a baby is born. This is extra blood which is discarded routinely and measures approximately one cupful.

Why is Cord Blood Special?

Cord Blood contains immature blood cells which grow and divide into different types of blood cells. These seed cells are similar to cells in the bone marrow and work in the same way as bone marrow transplant.

Who Needs Cord Blood?

People with cancer or leukaemia may require a bone marrow or a cord blood transplant as part of their treatment. Many such patients die because of delay or inability to find a suitable bone marrow donor.

Is it Safe to Donate Cord Blood?

· Blood from the umbilical cord and afterbirth is collected by the midwife only after the baby has been delivered safely
· The collection is a painless procedure and there is no risk to mother or baby
· The delivery of your baby is not altered in any way to facilitate the collection of Cord Blood

How can Cord Blood Save a Life?

There a number if tissue groups and special tests required to match cord blood with the patient. Once a matched cord blood has been found it can be transfused into the patient just like a normal blood transfusion. Cord Blood is frozen and it can be stored in liquid nitrogen for may years.

Note: This is a donation and cannot be reserved for any particular individual.
No blood is taken from the baby. Routine tests are carried out on the mother’s blood.

What Tests are Done?

These are routine tests carried out on all blood donors in the UK to avoid possible transmission of certain infectious diseases to the patient. A list of tests is available on request. Cord Blood is tested for tissue type and results are recorded on a confidential computer registry.

Follow-Up Tests

Six months after the cord blood donation, you will be required to attend your GP to give a small blood sample for repeat tests.

Your baby does not have to give a blood sample.

If your blood is required for a patient we must contact your GP to check your baby’s medical history.

In the rare event that your baby has a hereditary disease we need to know the details before using the cord blood for a patient.

How to Volunteer as a Cord Blood Donor

If you are pregnant and would like to consider donating cord blood to the Belfast Cord Blood Bank you should discuss the matter with your obstetrician or midwife. It should be noted that cord blood collection is at present mainly restricted to women being delivered at the Mater Hospital and the Royal-Jubilee Maternity Hospital.

Further information about cord blood banking can also be obtained by telephoning NIBTS, on Belfast (028) 9032 1414.