Bill Would Establish Center for Umbilical Cord Blood
Connecticut is looking to implement a statewide cord blood bank in order to make it easier for the public to access cord blood stem cells. Set to go before the Public Health Committee on March 16, the proposed bill would result in the likely establishment of a bank at the University of Connecticut Health Center, although the location could change. Additionally, this bill would make it mandatory for health care providers to inform expectant parents about their options when it comes to banking their child’s umbilical cord blood. If the bill passes, Connecticut will join the growing list of states to offer a statewide public bank. New Jersey was the first to create a statewide public bank in October, 2005. Throughout the United States, there are about 20 other public banks along with numerous private banks, which allow parents to store their child’s cord blood for a fee although the blood is then reserved specifically for the family’s own use. Cara Rubinsky, NewsDay.comMarch 2, 2006
Cryogenics Brings Baby Out of Bubble
A child in Ireland, who had been living in a sterile ‘bubble’ for over two months, has been given the chance to lead a normal life thanks to a transplant of umbilical cord blood stem cells. Bridget Connors was born with no natural immune system, making it necessary for the baby to live in a sterile bubble chamber in hospital in order to avoid infections. The only hope for restoring her immune system, and thereby allowing her to live beyond her first birthday, was a bone marrow transplant. After her parents got in touch with the experts at Newcastle General Hospital’s immunodeficiency unit, a team set to work to find a suitable donor for Bridget. Within five days the team had located a perfect umbilical cord blood match, something normally unheard of. According to Andrew Cant, who directed the team helping Bridget, “The time scale involved in this case is absolutely unheard of. We had warned Bridget’s parents that she could be in the sterile bubble unit for months before a donor could be found.” The transplant was able to take place very quickly, with the transfusion taking less than an hour. Bridget seems to be responding well and since the transfusion has been able to leave her sterile bubble as her immune system strengthens. LaboratoryTalk.com
