According to the Cord Blood Registry (CBR), doctors have performed cord blood transplants since 1988. The procedure takes stem cell-rich blood from newborns' umbilical cords and uses the extracted stem cells to treats diseases such as cancer and blood disorders.

Cord Blood Registry

As of 2009, the CBR reports that transplant procedures have used more than 134 cord blood samples the registry stored, out of more than 300,000 clients.

Donor Matching

Matching patients with donated cord blood cells is easier than with bone marrow or peripheral blood cells, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), because it doesn't require an exact match. That makes cord blood a viable option for patients unable to find a matching donor among registered donors.

Reduced Risks

The ACS says cord blood donation has no risk for donors, and the risk of graft-versus-host disease---when donated cells attack the recipient's system---is significantly lower when compared to bone marrow transplants, allowing the procedure to work more effectively.

Children and Small Adults

According to the ACS, children and smaller adults are prime candidates for cord blood transplants, because they typically need fewer blood cells to help them recover.

Potential

As of 2009, stem cell transplants in larger adults don't use cord blood, because the samples contain too few stem cells. The ACS explains that scientists are researching methods to cultivate more cells from cord blood, for use in larger patients.

Source:

Cord Blood Registry: Diseases Treated with Stem Cells

American Cancer Society: Sources of Stem Cells for Transplants