About Cord Blood Stem Cells


About Stem Cells

Medical and Scientific Overview of Stem Cells

What are Stem Cells?


Stem Cells are the original building blocks of life, the body’s founder cells which differentiate into all the specialized cells that make up the human body (skin, blood cells, muscle, bones, nerves etc).


Where are Stem Cells Found?


  • Embryo
    The richest and most abundant source of stem cells is found in an embryo. The proposed use of stem cells from this source is what has made stem cells so controversial, as it involves the termination of a potential life. Netcells is not involved in any form of embryonic stem cell harvest, storage, research or therapies.
  • Umbilical Cord
    Stem cells are abundant in the umbilical cord and placenta. This makes the collection of umbilical cord blood a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is free of moral, ethical or religious concerns, as the umbilical cord and placenta are routinely discarded at birth.
  • Adult
    Stem cells are also found in adults including bone marrow, peripheral blood, neural tissue, adipose (fat) tissue, skin and liver. These stem cells are active in repairing and maintaining our tissues and organs through out our lives. They are however, small in number and very difficult to isolate. The only adult stem cells used in therapy are those from the bone marrow and peripheral blood that are used in bone marrow transplants.


Diseases Treatable with Stem Cells


Current Applications


Umbilical cord blood is rich in haematopoietic stem cells which means they have the ability to evolve into all the specific cell types in the blood and immune system. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are therefore used to treated blood and blood related diseases.

The following table lists diseases for which haematopoietic stem cells are a standard treatment. For some diseases they are the only therapy and for others, they are employed when front-line therapies have failed or the disease is very aggressive.


  • Leukemias(Leukemia is a cancer of the blood immune system, whose cells are called leukocytes or white cells)
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes (Myelodysplasia is sometimes called pre-leukemia)
  • Lymphomas (Lymphoma is a cancer of the leukocytes that circulate in the blood and lymph vessels)
  • Anemia (Anemia’s are deficiencies or malformations of red cells)
  • Inherited Platelet Abnormalities (Platelets are small blood cells needed for clotting)
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders
  • Inherited Immune System Disorders
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Other cancers (Not originating in the blood system)

Future Applications


The future medical potential of stem cells is what has made this subject so fascinating, yet controversial. Significant research is being undertaken worldwide in stem cell therapies including:

  • Cardiac muscle regeneration
  • Bone repair in non- union fractures
  • Diabetes, Type 1
  • Auto-immune diseases
  • Nerve cell repair e.g. Cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injury, stroke recovery
  • Organ repair e.g. liver and kidney


Who Can Use the Stem Cells?

Stem cells represent a perfect match for the child whose cord blood stem cells have been stored, with no risk of rejection. There is also an excellent possibility that the stem cells will be a suitable match for family members and/or close relatives:

  • a sibling (1 in 4)
  • a parent (1 in 8)
  • a grandparent (1 in 32)


Chances of Needing the Stem Cells?


Hopefully they will never be needed and should be regarded as an extra form of medical insurance. The diseases that stem cells can currently treat are not common and therefore, the chances of using the cells are thankfully rare. Studies in the US have been done to calculate the lifetime probability (age 0-70) that an individual will undergo a stem cell transplant. They reported that 1:435 people will receive their own stem cells for treatment; 1:400 persons will receive someone else’s stem cells; and the combined total number of stem cell transplants will be 1:217 persons.


With all the current research being undertaken, it is likely that retrievals will increase in the future, as more diseases become treatable through stem cell therapy.



Reasons to Consider Storing your Baby’s Stem Cells

  • Family history of certain illnesses especially haematological (blood) cancers, inherited blood disorders and inherited immune deficiencies.
  • Sibling with disease treatable by stem cell transplant.
  • Families of African origin and mixed race marriages, as it is extremely difficult to find suitable donors, as they are seriously under-represented in public banks.
  • Form of medical insurance, to give you extra peace-of-mind. You hope you never need them, but if you do, they are available.
  • Question of affordability. As with all things, cost is important. Storing you baby’s stem cells is not cheap and if you can afford, you should definitely consider it. If you do speak to your doctor and there is a negative response, it is because some doctors are of the opinion that this is a waste of money, because the chances of needing the stem cells are low. You must however remember that as medical science progresses, more and more diseases will become treatable with stem cells.


    • Medical Opinions and Useful Links


    South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG)

    SASOG released an Opinion Paper on Cord Blood Banking in 2006, which was written by Prof Guidozzi. Netcells endorses this Paper. www.sasog.co.za


    Parents’ Guide Cord Blood

    This website was written by Dr Frances Verter, in memory of her daughter Shai who died from leukaemia. Read specifically Shai’s story, under the About Us section. Dr Verter has written this website in order to give unbiased advice to parents who are considering storing their baby’s cord blood. This website contains medical facts and opinions about stem cells, useful information about private cord blood banks around the world and what questions you should be asking.

    www.parentsguidecordblood.com