Step Six - Using the stem cells
We've reached step 6 - the one we all hope your family will never need to use. However, stem cells can help some very ill people, so let's find out what could happen to those carefully stored units.
If you, a member of your family or anyone else could benefit from a donated (allogeneic) cord blood stem cell transplant, the following will happen:
- The consultant searches for a suitable stem cell match through a stem cell transplantation global registry. If the global registry finds a cord blood unit thats been stored using our service and which provides a suitable match, we'll be contacted.
- We'll then contact you to discuss the potential donation of that portion of your banked sample. Remember at all times you control what happens, we only act in accordance with your express instructions and of course you retain a portion of your sample which would continue to be safely stored.
As we've already said, the likelihood of young children needing to use their own stem cells is really very small. Having said that, we believe that the use of our own cord blood stem cells in adulthood has the potential to be beneficial because:
- The causes of adult blood disorders are different to childhood blood disorders and adults may therefore be treated with their own stem cells. The trouble is that, because cord blood stem cell banking is fairly recent, most adults don't have their own stem cells stored.
- Having access as an adult to your own cord blood stem cells - cells which are healthy and versatile - could help treat adult blood disorders.
- By storing these cells now, your child may be able to benefit from the future possibilities of regenerative medicine treatments.
If you ever do require your banked unit for transplantation all you need to do is to contact us and we'll liaise with you and your doctor to make all the necessary arrangements.