WHAT MAKES UCB STEM CELLS SO UNIQUE ?
If collected and stored after birth, UCB stem cells are available when needed, versus an average 3 to 6 month search for matching bone marrow stem cells. This wait may be critical to a recipient’s survival. There is absolutely no pain or risk to anyone during the collection of UCB stem cells, versus that experienced during bone biopsy and general anesthesia when bone marrow stem cells are collected. UCB collection is also much less expensive because of these drastically different procurement procedures. It requires less frequent hospitalizations due to fewer post transfusion complications (Graft Versus Host Disease and a lower risk of infection, such as CMV, EBV, HIV, Hepatitis B, and possibly HHV-6), thereby providing for a higher quality of life. Other advantages that UCB stem cells have over bone marrow and peripheral stem cells are: • a higher rate of engraftment (acceptance by the body) in children. A smaller amount of UCB stem cells are needed than other sources of stem cells, as
