What is Cord Blood, and Why it Matters to Growing Families
July is Cord Blood Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating families about the power and potential of something many people didn’t even realize they have a choice about: umbilical cord blood.
If you’re expecting a child, or planning to grow your family through assisted reproductive technologies, chances are you’ve had to become an expert in many things you never thought you’d need to know. From hormone levels to the logistics of transporting your reproductive materials, every step of the journey has required thoughtful decisions, often with long-term implications.
Cord blood banking is one of those decisions. And while it may seem far removed from the immediate challenges of today, it can be a powerful resource for your child’s future. During Cord Blood Awareness Month, we want to help you understand what’s at stake, how it works, and how Cryoport Systems fits into the picture, quietly protecting possibilities – one delivery at a time.
What is Cord Blood?
Cord blood is the blood remaining in your baby’s umbilical cord and placenta after birth. It’s rich in hematopoietic stem cells, which are powerful cells that can develop into various types of blood and immune system cells.
Currently, these stem cells can be used in the treatment of more than 80 diseases, including certain cancers like leukemia, blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia, and immune deficiencies. There is additional research around their potential use for even more conditions like cerebral palsy, Type 1 diabetes, and more.
Cord blood can be collected with no pain or risk to the baby or birthing parent. Once collected, it must be processed and cryopreserved promptly to maintain cell viability and future usability.
Public vs. Private Cord Blood Banking Options
There are two main types of cord blood banking, public and private. Public banking involves donating your baby’s cord blood to a public registry, where it may be matched with a patient in need. This is a generous and potentially life-saving choice.
Private banking stores your baby’s cord blood exclusively for your family’s potential future use. This option may be the right one for you if you have a family history of certain illnesses, or if you want to simply keep every door open when it comes to future medical treatments and advancements.
While the decision is deeply personal, many families choose to bank cord blood privately as a form of biological insurance, one they hope they’ll never need but are grateful to have.
What Role Does Logistics Play?
If you decide to bank cord blood, your next question may be about how to make sure it gets where it needs to go. This is where Cryoport Systems comes in. Our team specializes in the transport of irreplaceable reproductive and biological materials, including cord blood, reproductive tissues, and cellular materials. We’re prepared to support the safe transport of your materials, 24/7/365.
The window for transporting cord blood is narrow. The collected sample needs to arrive at a processing lab quickly, and under controlled conditions, to ensure it retains its therapeutic value. That’s why trusted cord blood banks partner with Cryoport Systems, to give families peace of mind that the material they’ve chosen to preserve is in expert hands.
A Partner in Every Step
As part of your reproductive journey, Cryoport Systems may be a name you recognize. We’re known for transporting embryos, gametes, and reproductive materials safely across clinics, borders, and continents. That same standard of care applies to the transport of cord blood. We work with leading cord blood banks and fertility clinics to provide:
- Validated shipping systems that protect temperature-sensitive materials
- Continuous monitoring to detect any potential disruptions during transit
- Dedicated support by our team of logistics experts to navigate time zones, customs, and courier handoffs
Cord blood banking is a personal decision. But if you choose to preserve this once-in-a-lifetime resource, we’re honored to help protect it.
Cord Blood Awareness Month is a reminder that even in the joy and intensity of welcoming a new life, there are opportunities to think ahead. To preserve what matters.
At Cryoport Systems, we believe in enabling families to make informed, empowered decisions supported by systems and people who treat every sample like it could change a life. Because sometimes, it can.
If you’re considering cord blood banking or have questions about the logistics involved, we’re here to help. We support families, clinics, and cord blood banks across the globe.
Protected at every step. That’s our promise.
