ADDITIONAL SERVICES YOU CAN GET IN SINGAPORE

As parents, we all want our babies to grow healthy and have the best in their lives. Could you imagine having a remedy for most of dangerous and life-threatening diseases just at hand? How good would that be? Well, here is a dream come true! There is a cord blood banking options available in Singapore. The umbilical cord blood is collected during delivery and stored as a safeguard. In case of emergency, blood stem cells are retrieved from the banked material and sent to any part of the world with the help of international delivery services. More detailed information about collection of umbilical cord blood, blood stem cells storage, etc. is presented below.

Additional services you can get in Singapore are CORD BLOOD BANKING and CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS BANKING.

WHAT IS CORD BLOOD BANKING?

The collection and storage of blood collected from the umbilical cord after the baby has been delivered.

WHEN AND HOW IS CORD BLOOD COLLECTED?

The procedure normally takes less than five minutes immediately after delivery and can be performed in utero or caesarean deliveries and for multiple births. The blood will be drawn from the cord after the baby’s cord has been clamped and cut. StemCord procedure uses the bag collection method to collect the blood into the collection bag.

SHOULD I SAVE CORD BLOOD FOR ALL MY CHILDREN?

Every child’s cord blood stem cell sample is unique and saving the cord blood for each of your children will ensure that an exact genetic match is available. On top of that, it also increases the likelihood of a useful match between family members. In cases of identical twins, it is still recommended for the collection of cord blood for both babies to collect as many stem cells as possible. This because collection volume per baby in multiple births is usually reduced so collecting for both babies will ensure enough stem cell is yielded for transplantation (if needed).

ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO MOTHER OR THE BABY DURING COLLECTION?

Cord blood collection is a safe, painless and quick procedure. Cord blood is only collected after your baby has been safely delivered. The procedure is carried out by your attending physician and it doesn’t pose any significant risks to you or your baby. The care of both mother and child during the delivery it not affected.

WHAT IF I DO NOT LIVE IN SINGAPORE?

International couriers will provide customs clearance and guarantee the safe and quick delivery of your baby’s cord blood if you don’t live in Singapore.

HOW LONG CAN CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS BE STORED?

Although it is not known how long cord blood can be stored in liquid nitrogen and how long its cells can remain viable, current medical literature has proven than stem cells in cryogenic storage, have maintained their viability to proliferate and engraft in cryogenic storage for 23 years.

WHAT IS IN UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD THAT IS SO IMPORTANT?

Umbilical cord blood (placental blood) a rich source of stem cells which are immature, pluripotent cells that can produce all the other blood cells. This includes platelets, red and white blood cells. Placental blood can be used to treat various genetic disorders that affect the blood and immune system, leukemia and certain solid tumours and certain types of inherited disorders.

WHY ARE BLOOD STEM CELLS USEFUL AND VALUABLE?

Most often found deep in the bone marrow and in the peripheral blood circulation, blood stem cells are the factory of the blood system. Blood stem cells are important for stem cell transplants (SCT). It is a very important treatment option for many blood disorders and cancers. Therefore, various blood stem cell banks have been set up around the globe to provide potential blood stem cell donors. These stem cell banks appear in the form of bone marrow registries and cord blood banks.

WHAT TYPES OF DISEASES CAN BE TREATED WITH STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS?

More than 80 diseases can be treated with stem cell transplantation. Research is still being conducted for treatment in cellular repair and regeneration.  Emerging applications of stem cells are listed under Future of Stem Cells.

The following diseases can be treatable with cord blood stem cells:

  • Autologous Treatment:
    Childhood Cancers
    Neuroblastoma
    Retinoblastoma
  • Allogeneic Treatment:
    Leukemias
    Lymphomas, Myelomas
    Thalassemias
    Sickle Cell Anemia

    WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR CORD BLOOD TRANSPLANTS?

    Thousands of cord blood transplants have been used for children and adults around the globe. Research has shown that cord blood stem cells can differentiate into other types of cells in the body. This regenerative quality of stem cells has been brought to the forefront in the field of cellular repair.

    Stem cells have been considered as an important biological resource and researchers are conducting more studies to unlock the potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells in future applications for diseases such as:

    • Alzheimer’s
    • Brain injury
    • Cerebral palsy
    • Corneal regeneration
    • Diabetes
    • Juvenile diabetes
    • Heart and liver disease
    • Muscular dystrophy
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Spinal cord injury
    • Stroke

    ARE THERE ANY ETHICAL ISSUES RELATING TO CORD BLOOD TRANSPLANT?

    There are no ethical issues involved in the collection or usage of stem cells from cord blood, unlike using stem cells taken from embryos. Cells from this source that are not stored will be discarded and hence valuable stem cells will be lost. Collection of stem cells is only possible and available at the time of birth.