Due to the recent medical advances regarding stem cells and their current and potential future uses, stem cell banking is now a service provided by FDA-approved commercial enterprises throughout the U.S.
Whether the cells come from umbilical cords, placental tissue, or blood, they are separated from the extracted medium and then frozen and stored for the future needs of the donor or another recipient regardless of relationship.
Banked cells recently have been used for autologous infusions for cerebral palsy, type 1 diabetes, a rare autoimmune disorder related to autism, acute myeloid leukemia, and a serious blood disease, Diamond Blackfan anemia. Later in 2007, projected data indicates transplants using cord blood as a source of stem cells will surpass transplants using bone marrow.
One commercial entity charges $6750 for the cell extraction procedure and an annual $400 storage fee.
Illustration: MicroSoft clipart.
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Business Wire (04/30/07)
PR Newswire (05/07/07)
PR Newswire (05/08/07)
Penn Live (05/10/07)
American Chronicle (05/13/07)