Cord blood banking is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for parents to save the stems cells found in the blood of their newborn's umbilical cord. Cord blood banking is safe for both the mother and the newborn since the cord blood is collected after the baby is born and the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut. Once the cord blood has been collected, it is sent to a laboratory for processing and storage in liquid nitrogen vapour.

Collections can take place after vaginal or cesarean births and doctors do not have to alter routine delivery procedures to collect cord blood. As the collection occurs after the cord has been clamped and cut, there is no risk or pain to the infant or mother.

Thousands of families are banking their newborns' cord blood because it contains stem cells that are unique to the newborn, and genetically related to their families. Cord blood banking enables parents to preserve these precious stem cells for their own potential use for the many developing applications of stem cell technologies, such as its use in treating heart disease and diabetes. It also serves as a type of safeguard in case of future need for treatment of the dozens of cancers and blood disorders that are already being treated with cord blood stem cells.

There are two types of cord blood banks: public donation banks, and private family banks.

• In a public bank, cord blood is donated anonymously for potential use by a patient in need. Donors must meet eligibility requirements, and give birth in participating hospitals in order to donate to a public bank.

• In a private family bank, the cord blood is collected and stored for exclusive use by the baby and family members, should a need arise in the future.