Umbilical cord blood glossary

An easy guide to some of the scientific terminology.

Maternal blood testing

The cost of maternal blood tests for HIV, syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HTLV (Human T-Cell Lympotrophic Virus) is covered in our fee.

HLA testing

For an additional charge of £175 we can conduct Human Leukocyte Antigen testing to see if your baby's stem cells could be used by siblings or relatives.

Allogeneic transplant

When stem cells are donated from one person and transplanted into another person to be used as a treatment for certain illnesses and conditions.

Autologous transplant

When stem cells are taken from a person and then transplanted into the same person to be used as a treatment for certain illnesses and conditions.

Collection

This takes place after birth and is the process of collecting umbilical cord blood stem cells using a tube with a needle on one end and a bag on the other.

Cord blood

This is the blood contained within the umbilical cord and placenta.

Cryogenic

The process of freezing cord blood stem cells, at very low temperatures using special techniques, so that it is safely stored for long periods of time.

Haematopoeitic

This relates to the creation of blood in the body. A haematopoietic stem cell is one that can divide and produce blood cells and the immune system

Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)

Tests performed on the cord blood stem cell unit that identifies tissue types. Tissue types are similar to blood types. For a person to receive a transplant of cells or tissue from someone else, they must have the closest possible tissue type ‘match'. Your tissue type is determined by your DNA. There are millions of possible tissue types, so a large bank of stem cells increases the chance of finding a matched unit when one is needed.

Human Tissue Authority (HTA)

The regulating body enforcing the Human Tissue Act.

International Standards Organisation (ISO)

International standard quality management systems and processes.

Leukaemia

This is a cancer of the blood forming system, the blood forming system is found in the bone marrow. In leukaemia, some blood cells do not grow properly, but remain within the bone marrow and continue to reproduce in an uncontrolled way. These cells fill up the bone marrow and prevent it from making healthy white blood cells. This means the body is less able to fight off infections. There are many different kinds of leukaemia.

Match/Matched

Refers to a tissue typing match, the scientific term for this is HLA-type match. Tissue types must be matched as closely as possible between the person donating stem cells and the person receiving them to reduce the risk of rejection.

Maternal blood test - First

Blood taken from the mother up to 30 days before the baby is born and before 7 days after the birth. The blood is completely separate to the blood taken from the umbilical cord.

Maternal blood test - Second

Blood taken 6 months after your babies due date and before their first birthday to ensure there were no dormant diseases. Both tests are for HIV, Syphillis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HTLV.

Mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells are found in bone marrow and umbilical cord and turn into bone, cartilage and related tissues. They can also be induced to turn into a wide range of other cell types.

Peripheral blood

This is the blood that circulates around the arteries and veins of the body.

Processing

The way in which the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are extracted from the blood, counted, tested and frozen ready for long-term storage.

Regenerative medicine

This is about treatments in development that, in the future, may be able to treat diseases and injuries by using stem cells to repair or regenerate damaged cells and tissues in the body.

Stem cell

A special kind of cell that can divide many times to make exact copies of itself, or to make specialised cells that do a particular task in the body for example a blood cell, bone cell or liver cell. Some people call stem cells ‘master' cells or ‘blank' cells because they can change into so many different types of cell.

Tissue type/typing

Tissue types are similar to blood types. For a person to receive a transplant of cells or tissue from someone else, they must have the closest possible tissue type ‘match' to avoid rejection of the transplanted material. Your tissue type is determined by your DNA.

Transplantation

Taking cells, tissues, or organs and placing them into the same person or a different person to treat disease.

Unit

Stems cells collected from the umbilical cord are properly described as a ‘cord blood stem cell unit'.