The unsung generosity of cord blood donation

The investigative feature by Kwan on private cord blood banking1 illuminates a troubling and misleading practice, frequently promoted in NHS spaces. Umbilical cord blood banking has gained prominence as an option for expectant parents worried about their child’s future health. Parents pay private companies up to £3000 to freeze their baby’s cord blood, which contains stem cells, in case the infant develops a condition that could be treated with stem cell therapy.This profit driven approach of storing stem cells for vague “future use” detracts from the benefits of cord blood donation, which facilitates lifesaving acts of generosity across borders and generations.For patients with acute leukaemia, an allogeneic stem cell transplant is often crucial for a cure. While some patients find a suitable match among siblings or unrelated adult volunteers, others, especially those with mixed genetic ancestry, may have difficulty finding a compatible donor.2 A cure may still be possible, however,…
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