Where do stem cells come from?

Stem cells are like a blank page. In cellular terms, they can become anything that the body needs by developing into various types of tissues and other forms of cells.

In a very simplistic way, they are a little like a printer’s ink cartridge; until your computer tells the printer what it needs to do, the cartridge contains the raw materials to print almost anything, be it last month’s bank statement, or the greatest novel that the world has ever read.

To say that stem cells are important is something of an understatement.

Scientists are currently using stem cells to research treatments for various diseases and conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and numerous forms of cancers.

These highly-skilled researchers are working hard with stem cells to understand what causes them to become the different kinds of cells that they can grow into.

This research means that they can force stem cells to become cells that can fight a specific issue, which in future years will become the basis of important medical treatments.

Stem cells can also be used in organ transplants, to ensure that the organ is not rejected by the patient’s immune system which might identify the new tissue as alien.

For the purposes of the service we offer, the stem cells we harvest and store will come from two places; your baby’s umbilical cord, and their placenta.

This happens very shortly after the birth, when a small sample of cord and placental blood are extracted and sent with great haste to our facility.

When we have received them, we will scan them for any potential viral infections before beginning the process of cooling them down. We do this by introducing a cryopreservant that maintains the healthiness of the cells, and then cooling them to -90ºC.

Once they have reached this low temperature, they are then placed into a container of liquid nitrogen and cooled further to -196ºC.

The cells can then be stored for an indefinite period, until the time comes that your child may need them to help them combat an illness they may have developed.

If you have missed the chance of storing placenta and umbilical stem cells, all is not lost. Stem cells can also be found in the soft tissue of milk teeth, and also in adipose fat.

This means that there is a chance of storing stem cells for both children and adults. Speak to our experts for more details.

If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our professional team