The UK Stem Cell Bank and Cord Blood Banking
The UK Stem Cell Bank does not collect, process, store or distribute Umbilical Cord Blood either for its own use or on behalf of others.
The Bank was established to provide stocks of human stem cell lines that have been established in the laboratory and are grown in tissue culture. This is distinct from the harvesting of haematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood for transplantation which undergoes minimal manipulation to provide the cells necessary to treat a range of haematological malignancies and other disorders.
The harvesting of umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells is undertaken in the UK by a number of organisations, both within and outside the National Health Service. A scientific opinion paper on Umbilical Cord Blood Banking has recently been prepared by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynacologists (RCOG). A copy of this paper, which includes a discussion of commercial cord blood banking, can be found on the RCOG website.
Further Information on Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation can be found through the links below: