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Umbilical cords save lives |
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Blood from the umbilical cord offers fresh hope for curing leukaemia and other kinds of cancer.
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Blood that can regenerate life |
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The umbilical cord and the blood it contains are usually thrown away, but this blood contains elements that are capable of generating blood cells in suitable quantities. It can thus be used for transplants in the same way and for the same symptoms as bone marrow.
Collecting blood from the umbilical cord after the cord has been cut at birth does not entail any kind of risk to the mother or baby.
Transplanting the blood from the umbilical cord, like bone marrow, can help to cure children, and adults, suffering from serious, life-threatening blood disorders.
Umbilical cord blood banks are responsible for guaranteeing that the blood is properly stored and classified so it can be used in optimum condition.
Authorised transplant centres are responsible for the transplant authorisation and procedure in collaboration with the umbilical cord blood banks.
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How to give blood from an umbilical cord |
What do I need to do?
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Check that there is no family history of potentially transmissible diseases.
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Rule out, by means of a blood test on the mother, the presence of potentially transmissible infectious diseases.
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Check that the baby has not suffered from any serious illnesses during the first months of life.
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Complete and sign the attached consent form after receiving all the required information.
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What do we do?
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Blood from the umbilical cord will be used for any patient who needs it, in accordance with medical advice and the level of compatibility and suitability of cells with requirements.
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There will be no discrimination for reasons of race, nationality, religion or financial status.
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The donation will be altruistic and anonymous.
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Blood from the umbilical cord may be used for research purposes if it is not suitable for therapeutic use.
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Any mother can give blood from the umbilical cord |
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If she is healthy and has no history of diseases that are potentially transmissible by blood.
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If she has received the necessary information, is aware that donation could mean curing very serious diseases, especially in children, and understands that there is no risk to the mother or baby.
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If she is willing to take this generous, altruistic step in exchange for the slight inconvenience of a few additional analyses.
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You cannot give blood from the umbilical cord |
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If you have AIDS or are infected by HIV.
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If you have hepatitis B or C or have been infected by the corresponding viruses.
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If you have injected drugs.
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If you have had sexual relations with someone in any of the above situations during the last 12 months.
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If you have had sexual relations with different people in the last 12 months.
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If you have received a transfusion in the last 12 months.
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Where you can make your donation |
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• Maternity listing
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The BST's Cord Blood Programme works alongside the Cord Blood Donation programmes run by the Autonomous Communities of Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Navarre, Extremadura and Cantabria.
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Informative triptych on the donation of umbilical cord |
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It includes information on: the profits for the donation, what has to be done to be donor, who can be donor and which circumstances prevent it and the centers where the donation can be carried out.
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