What is Blood?
Blood, to put it simply is essential for life. Blood is composed of cells - red cells, white cells, and platelets - suspended in a liquid, called plasma. Plasma is the source of gamma globulin, serum albumin, fibrogen and clotting factors that help control bleeding.
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Red Blood Cell function
Red blood cells transport oxygen to body cells and remove carbon monoxide. Red cells are also produced in the bone marrow.
Platelet Function
Platelets are colorless cells whose primary function is to control bleeding. Produced in the bone marrow by
megakaryocytes, platelets function by adhering to damaged blood vessels, creating a plug, thus slowing the loss of blood. |
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White Blood Cell Function
White cells are the defense cells in the blood stream. They attack and destroy bacteria that invade the body. And yes, white cells are also made in the bone marrow.
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Umbilical Cord Blood is unique
What makes umbilical cord blood so valuable is because in addition to normal blood components, umbilical cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, which are the same cells found in bone marrow. Hematopoietic stem cells are the parent cells which create all of a person's blood cells.
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Scientific Studies
Recent studies also indicate that there is an increased concentration of early immature hematopoietic cells in cord blood as compared to adult marrow. This observation has raised the question "whether there are any unique features of cord blood stem/progenitor cells when compared to these cells in marrow?" It is possible that unique cells in cord blood exist; they just have not been proven definitely. Over the past eight years, clinical studies have demonstrated that cord blood transplantation is an acceptable alternative to bone marrow transplantation. |
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Hematopoietic Stem Cells
When hematopoietic stem cells are transplanted into patients, these cells are capable of regenerating bone marrow and immune systems that may have been destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
View list of possible treatments
Storing Your Baby's Cord Blood
Lifebank offers parents the opportunity to register their baby's cord blood.
Contact Lifebank for more information |
