Used in medicine today
Cord blood stem cells used in life-saving treatments
Umbilical cord blood contains stem cells that rebuild the blood and immune system. These are the same type of stem cells used in bone marrow transplants, a treatment many people have heard of or encountered.
They are already used today in the treatment of serious diseases such as leukemia, immune deficiencies, and genetic blood disorders.
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A resource that is otherwise discarded
Because these cells can only be collected at birth, storing them preserves access to a unique biological resource for your child, and potentially for your family. After birth, once the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, the remaining blood in the cord and placenta no longer serves a purpose. If it is not collected, it is discarded as medical waste.
At the same time, it contains stem cells already used in established, life-saving medical treatments. Since 2014, Cellaviva has helped families preserve stem cells through quality-controlled processing and continuously monitored cryogenic storage. All stem cell samples are handled under medical and laboratory oversight, with sterility controls, viability testing, and full traceability throughout the storage process.
If a need for stem cells arises later in life, treatment often depends on finding a compatible donor. This means searching donor registries, waiting for a match, and relying on a donor being available and able to proceed at that specific time. Even when a match is identified, access is not always guaranteed.
For many families, the decision to store stem cells is not about expecting a medical need, but about avoiding a situation where access to treatment depends entirely on factors outside their control.
At birth, families have a unique opportunity to preserve these stem cells for potential future use. Once this moment has passed, these cells can no longer be collected.
Unfortunately, not all patients are able to find a suitable donor in time.
Stem cell banking at birth
How cord blood stem cells are used in medical treatments
Cord blood stem cells are already used in established medical treatments for more than 80 malignant and non-malignant conditions, including leukemia, lymphoma, and inherited disorders of the blood and immune system 1. These are the same types of hematopoietic stem cells used in bone marrow transplantation.
Globally, cord blood stem cells have been used in more than 85,000 transplants and treatments, with clinical use continuing to expand internationally 2, 3. For many patients, access to these cells is a critical part of treatment. Research also continues to explore how these cells may be used in additional areas of regenerative and immune-related medicine.
Once birth has passed, the opportunity to collect these cells no longer exists.
Current treatments & future research
Why families choose to store cord blood
Immediate access
Available without delay if treatment is needed
Higher chance of compatibility
Requires less strict matching than bone marrow
Lower risk of complications
Reduced risk of immune-related reactions
Safe and simple collection
Collected after birth without affecting mother or child
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Why stem cells at birth are fundamentally different
Stem cells exist in the body throughout life, but their regenerative potential and biological function declines with time. As we age, both the number and function of stem cells decline. They are also affected by illness, environmental factors, and genetic changes over time.
Collecting stem cells later in life is often complex. It may require invasive procedures, such as bone marrow extraction, and depends on the person being healthy enough at the time.
In many diseases, the patient’s own stem cells cannot be used at all. In conditions such as blood cancers and certain genetic disorders, the stem cells themselves carry the disease. In these cases, treatment depends on finding a compatible donor. This process can take time, and in some cases, time is critical.
Cord blood stem cells are different. They are collected at the very beginning of life, before disease, ageing, or environmental factors have had any impact. They are biologically young, highly active, and more adaptable than stem cells collected later in life. Because of this, matching requirements are less strict compared to bone marrow, and the risk of complications may be lower.
This is one of the reasons cord blood is widely used in transplantation medicine today, and why access to these cells can be critical.
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Who benefits from cord blood stem cell storage
Cord blood stem cell storage is a proactive decision that can benefit not just your newborn, but your entire family. These stem cells are a perfect genetic match for your child and may also be compatible with siblings and other close relatives.
In situations where a serious disease arises, this can mean having access to a potential treatment option within the family, without relying entirely on donor registries.
In some cases, this becomes relevant sooner than expected.
In certain cases, cord blood from a newborn may be used for an older sibling affected by a serious disease, such as leukemia or rare genetic blood disorders. These situations are not the majority, but they reflect an important reality. Access to stem cells can, in some cases, be critical to treatment.
For some families, timely access to compatible stem cells can be critically important.
Your child
A perfect genetic match, with stem cells available if needed in the future
Collected at birth, before disease or environmental factors can affect their quality
Immediately accessible, without the need to search for a donor
Siblings and family members
May provide a compatible match, increasing the chances of access to treatment within the family
Can reduce reliance on donor registries and waiting times
May be especially valuable in situations where time is critical
Current treatments & future research
When stem cells become relevant in real life
Storing cord blood stem cells is not only for families with known medical conditions. For many, the decision is based on the understanding that serious illness can arise unexpectedly, and that access to treatment is not always guaranteed.
They may be especially relevant for families in situations such as:
Many of the diseases currently treated with stem cell transplantation affect the blood and immune system. In these conditions, the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells is impaired or replaced by diseased cells.
Stem cell transplantation is used to rebuild a functioning blood and immune system.
If these types of conditions exist in your family, storing cord blood may provide access to a compatible source of stem cells if needed in the future.
Finding a matching stem cell donor is not always straightforward. For individuals with mixed or underrepresented ethnic backgrounds, the chances of finding a suitable donor in public registries are often lower.
Cord blood stem cells require less strict matching than bone marrow, which can increase the chances of finding a compatible option within the family.
This can be especially important in situations where time is critical.
When a child is conceived through IVF or with donor eggs or sperm, genetic matching within the family can become more complex.
In situations where a stem cell transplant is needed, identifying a compatible donor may be more challenging.
By storing cord blood at birth, you preserve a biological resource that is directly connected to your child and immediately available if needed.
In some families, the relevance of stem cells is already clear.
If a sibling or close family member is affected by a disease that can be treated with stem cell transplantation, cord blood from a newborn may be used as a compatible donor source.
In these situations, having access to stem cells within the family can be critical and may shorten the time to treatment.
In pregnancies where there is an increased risk of complications, medical needs may arise early in life.
Stem cell treatments are already used in certain conditions affecting the blood and immune system.
Storing cord blood provides an additional level of preparedness if treatment becomes necessary.
Most families who choose to store stem cells do so without a known medical need.
Serious illness is not something most people expect, but it is something many people encounter, either within their own family or close circle.
For these families, the decision is not based on certainty, but on the understanding that access to treatment options can matter, even if they are never used.
One opportunity at birth, a resource that cannot be replaced.
Stem cells can only be collected once. We help you preserve them with the highest standards of quality and control.
