Parents bank baby cells as 'insurance'
Wednesday June 25 2008
MORE and more Irish parents are "banking" their baby's cord blood stem cells as a form of "insurance" against future illness, it was claimed yesterday. Michael Doherty, Managing Director of Medicare Health and Living which offers the service, said: "Cord blood is found in the baby's umbilical cord and is normally discarded with the placenta as medical waste after the birth.
"However, the umbilical cord and the blood it contains are an important source of stem cells and more Irish people are now realising the benefits of freezing this source should it be required at a later date."
He added: "Stem cells are regarded as the 'building blocks' of the blood and immune system as well as other types of cells and tissues.
"They are unspecialised cells which can develop into specialised cells, such as red blood cells or other specific body tissue to treat specific diseases."
According to Medicare almost 40pc of clients who request the cord-blood service are health care professionals.
- Eilish O'Regan
