Umbilical Cord Blood

Program Now Available

HARTFORD –– Hartford Hospital has become the first Connecticut medical facility to collect blood from the umbilical cords of new mothers for the treatment of others with life threatening diseases.

The American Red Cross Cord Blood Program is a joint effort between the hospital and the agency.

Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic (blood) stem cells, which are cells that can reproduce to make new blood cells. Although the process of transplanting these cells is fairly new, early successes have given doctors and scientists reason to be optimistic about the potential uses of cord blood, not only to treat cancers, but genetic disorders such as sickle cell disease.

“Increasingly, medical evidence indicates that umbilical cord blood is a rich and effective source of transplantable stem cells, building blocks which can restore a patient’s blood supply,” said Karen Ballen, one of the principal advocates of this program for the Red Cross.

The use of cord blood may become a strong alternative to bone marrow transplantation. Cord blood offers a good supply of easily removable stem cells. The collection process is harmless to the mother and child, and does not interfere with the birth process. Blood is collected from the placenta and the umbilical cord, which are normally discarded. Studies indicate that cord blood causes fewer recipient reactions and may be transplanted without an exact tissue match.

Unlike private cord banks, which collect and store blood from umbilical cords for possible individual future use, the Red Cross program will collect and store umbilical cord blood donations and make these donations available for any patient needing a stem cell transplant. The American Red Cross Cord Blood Program is not-for-profit, and there is no cost to the donor to participate.

Red Cross staff will provide training for all birth care providers at Hartford Hospital, and educational materials for interested donors. Mothers are asked to provide a detailed medical history and have blood samples drawn for infectious disease testing. Only mothers meeting FDA eligibility requirements will be accepted. All information is strictly confidential.

Expectant mothers interested in participating in the American Red Cross Cord Blood Program should contact the Red Cross at 860-674-0810 as early in their pregnancy as possible, preferably between 28 and 30 weeks.