Cord blood is the remaining blood found in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born, and it is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells. The collection process is non-invasive and safe for both the mother and the infant. Because this material is typically discarded as medical waste, banking it offers a unique opportunity to preserve these valuable cells for potential future medical use. Successfully banking this sample involves a series of logistical steps that must be completed before, during, and immediately after delivery. This article details the procedural steps necessary to ensure a viable collection.
Pre-Delivery Planning and Logistics
The preparation for cord blood collection begins long before labor starts and centers on selecting a bank and completing the necessary enrollment paperwork. Expectant parents must first decide between public donation, where the sample is available to anyone in need, or private banking, which reserves the sample exclusively for family use. This initial choice determines the specific bank and dictates the subsequent logistical steps.
Once a bank is chosen, the enrollment process involves completing a client agreement and various consent and medical history forms. Banks recommend completing this step by the 34th week of pregnancy to allow sufficient time for processing and for the collection kit to arrive. The bank will then ship a specialized collection kit, which contains all the sterile supplies for the healthcare provider and the necessary packaging for transport.
The collection kit should be kept in a safe, dry place at room temperature, ideally near the hospital bag, and must not be exposed to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight. The kit contains temperature-sensitive components, such as blood vials with anticoagulants, which must remain viable. Parents must notify their obstetrics team well in advance of their intent to bank the cord blood. This communication ensures that the delivery team is prepared and aware of the specific collection procedures required by the chosen bank.
The Collection Procedure in the Delivery Room
The collection of cord blood takes place immediately following the birth of the baby and is performed by a trained healthcare professional, such as a doctor or midwife. This procedure is entirely separate from the birthing process and does not interfere with the initial bonding time between the mother and the infant. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, which is the standard procedure for any delivery.
With the infant separated, the remaining umbilical cord, still attached to the placenta, is prepared for collection. The healthcare provider first cleanses a section of the umbilical cord surface, typically with an antiseptic like alcohol or an iodine-based solution, to prevent contamination of the sample. The provider then inserts a sterile needle from the collection kit into the umbilical vein, which is the largest vessel in the cord.
The collection bag, which contains an anticoagulant solution, is positioned lower than the placenta to allow the blood to drain by gravity. This collection method is passive and typically takes between five and ten minutes to complete. During the process, the healthcare professional may gently massage the umbilical cord to encourage the maximum possible flow of blood into the collection bag. The goal is to collect the highest volume of blood possible, which can range from approximately 40 to 120 milliliters.
In addition to the blood, some banks also facilitate the collection of a segment of the umbilical cord tissue. If this secondary collection is planned, a small section of the cord is disinfected and placed into a separate collection container, often a jar with a physiological solution. Once the blood collection is complete, the needle is safely removed, and the tubing on the collection bag is sealed with clips to prevent leakage.
Handling the Collection Kit After Delivery
Immediately after the collection procedure is finished, the focus shifts to securing the collected sample for safe transport to the laboratory. The collection bag must be sealed and labeled with the unique tracking codes provided in the kit to ensure traceability and proper identification. The healthcare provider also completes the necessary documentation, which includes time stamps of the collection, details about the birth, and the mother’s health history.
A maternal blood sample is also required, usually collected within 48 hours before or after delivery, to test for infectious diseases as mandated by federal regulations. This blood, along with the collected cord blood and tissue samples, is carefully packaged back into the specialized collection kit. The kit is designed to maintain a stable, near-room temperature environment during transit to protect stem cell viability.
Parents or a designated person must promptly contact the cord blood bank using the toll-free number provided in the kit to arrange for pickup. The bank dispatches a medical courier, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to retrieve the kit from the hospital. This immediate arrangement is crucial because the sample must arrive at the laboratory for processing within a specific time frame, usually within 36 to 48 hours of collection, to maintain the stem cells’ viability. The specialized packaging ensures the sample remains protected until it reaches the processing facility.