Advantages of Cord Blood

ADVANTAGES
of CORD BLOOD vs BONE MARROW

For more and more patients, cord blood is being used as the preferred source of stem cells instead of bone marrow. The reasons for this choice by doctors will vary as each case is different. Cord blood has several distinct advantages over bone marrow:

Cord blood is easier to collect, store and access quickly for a transplant.
Research has shown that in stem cell transplants where only one cord blood unit is used there is significantly less risk of GvHD (Graft versus Host Disease) for patients versus those undergoing a bone marrow transplant. In transplants where two cord blood units are used the risk of acute GvHD is comparable to bone marrow and other methods (read more about this research here).
Recent studies have shown that there is less risk of a relapse for certain diseases if cord blood is used (read about it here).
Logistically, cord blood can be shipped easily and made available in days. This has become particularly important during the COVID-19 crisis.
In addition, the majority of cord blood units currently stored around the world was collected and stored prior to the 2020 pandemic which means that these particular units are naturally "COVID free."

Learn more from our
World Cord Blood Day Official Participants!

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Cord blood is easier to match than bone marrow. Watch this video to learn about HLA matching:

Get more Facts on Cord Blood

Financial support for this project has been provided by
QuickSTAT

Every day, QuickSTAT, a part of Kuehne+Nagel, safely and reliably moves thousands of critical shipments around the world. For over forty years, QuickSTAT has been entrusted with transporting human organs and tissue for transplant or research, blood, blood products, cord blood, bone marrow, medical devices, and personalized medicine, 24/7/365. QuickSTAT’s specially trained experts work with hospitals, laboratories, blood banks and medical processing centers, and utilize the safest routes to ensure integrity, temperature control and chain of custody throughout the transportation process.

World Cord Blood Day is organized & hosted by Save the Cord Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit)

Save the Cord Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, was established to promote awareness of the life-saving benefits of cord blood based on unbiased and factual information. The Foundation educates parents, health professionals and the general public about the need to preserve this valuable medical resource while providing information on both public cord blood donation programs and family cord blood banks worldwide.