Cord Blood Bank

In order to offer an alternative stem cell source to those patients who do not have suitable related family donors, the Iranian network for cord blood was established in 1998 in the Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Research Institute. The registry has joined Netcord, an unrelated cord blood allocation network organization, and now is a member of Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide (BMDW). Patients who do not have a donor may find a match through a public cord blood bank.

Umbilical cord blood from a sibling has been used as a source of hematopoietic stem cells in 18 patients. Recipients of umbilical cord blood cell transplants to date have been mostly children.

52 units of cord blood have been used in 45 patients with immunodeficiency diseases such as LADS, SCID and malignant / non- malignant disorders such as leukemia, thalassemia, Fanconi anemia and aplastic anemia. 7 patients have received two cord blood units.

Central missions of umbilical cord blood bank:

Admission and screening of maternal donors (genetic disorders and viral disease)

Collecting, processing and freezing of cord blood units, peripheral blood and bone marrow specimens according to universally valid standards