Post by pigeonpie on Mar 24, 2009 15:37:59 GMT
Blood extractions from umbilical cords
The Department of Health is to give authorisation for the Mateu Orfila Hospital to extract blood from the umbilical cord next month. The samples will be sent to the Blood and Tissue Bank in the Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona for cryopreservation and distribution when needed.
The Menorcan hospital applied to join the programme for umbilical cord blood donations in 2008 and will be authorised to carry out the procedure at the same time as the hospital in Inca.
Blood taken from the umbilical cords is rich in stem cells which are capable of renewing and reconstituting all types of blood cells and are therefore used in curing fatal, blood-orientated diseases such as leukaemia.
Last year there were around 850 births, more than 90% of which would have the potential to be donors, provided the blood is of high quality and free from viruses and illnesses.
The Department of Health is to give authorisation for the Mateu Orfila Hospital to extract blood from the umbilical cord next month. The samples will be sent to the Blood and Tissue Bank in the Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona for cryopreservation and distribution when needed.
The Menorcan hospital applied to join the programme for umbilical cord blood donations in 2008 and will be authorised to carry out the procedure at the same time as the hospital in Inca.
Blood taken from the umbilical cords is rich in stem cells which are capable of renewing and reconstituting all types of blood cells and are therefore used in curing fatal, blood-orientated diseases such as leukaemia.
Last year there were around 850 births, more than 90% of which would have the potential to be donors, provided the blood is of high quality and free from viruses and illnesses.
