Difference Between Cord Blood And Cord Tissue?

Cord blood and cord tissue are both sources of stem cells, but cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells while cord tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells.

Cord blood and cord tissue are stem cell-rich components collected from the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. However, they differ in their composition and potential uses. Cord blood contains stem cells for medical treatments, such as blood genetic & immune disorders. In contrast, cord tissue contains cells with regenerative properties that can be used for musculoskeletal and are being used in various clinical trials like Orthopaedic applications, Diabetes, Neurological disorders, astetic usage & other personalized medicine. Understanding the difference between cord blood and cord tissue is important to make informed decisions about preserving them for future use.

What Is Cord Blood?

The blood in a newborn's placenta and umbilical cord after birth is known as cord blood. The umbilical cord is clamped and severed during delivery by the birthing plan as agreed upon mutually by the birthing parents and the company, leaving an average of 80–120 millilitres (mL) of blood. The blood in the cord and placenta is extracted using a surgical needle attached with the collection bag.

It is rich in stem cells, immature cells that may develop into different types of cells in the body. Cord blood stem cells are used in medical treatments for various blood and immune system disorders and some cancers.

What Is Cord Tissue?

A jelly-like substance surrounding the umbilical cord vessels is called cord tissue. The umbilical cord will be clamped and severed during birth, and a segment of it (often a bit about four inches long) can then be kept. Millions of various types of stem cells that can later develop into a person's neurological system, sensory organs, circulatory tissues, skin, bone, cartilage, and other body parts may be developed from the cord tissue.

These stem cells are what we gather and keep in reserve for conceivable use in the future to cure illnesses or health-related disorders.

How Do These Components Work?

All blood has stem cells, platelets, plasma, red and white blood cells. The fundamental distinction between cord blood and mother's blood is the abundance of hematopoietic stem cells found in foetal blood, which later give rise to the blood and immune system. When banking cord blood, these hematopoietic source cells are separated and kept.

On the other hand, cord tissue resembles transparent jelly on the outside. It protects the umbilical cord's two arteries and one vein by containing lipids, white blood cells, and stem cells. It is a bigger source of mesenchymal stem cells. However, it also contains epithelial and endothelial stem cells. The tissues that make up the nervous system, sensory organs, circulatory tissues, skin, bone, cartilage, and other tissues can develop from these stem cells.

The Benefits of Preserving Cord Blood And Tissue

The ability of umbilical cord blood and cord tissue to save lives in many ways is its primary distinction. Doctors treat children with blood and immune illnesses using cord blood components, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anaemia. Even though there are no licensed medicines, their potential is astounding.

Best When Banked Together

More than 80 disorders have been successfully treated using cord blood stem cells. Moreover, numerous intriguing clinical trials are currently being conducted to test their efficacy in treating brain-related conditions, including cerebral palsy and autism. Future research on cord tissue is very promising and has the potential to treat diseases that were previously considered to be incurable.

Parents should consider the potential future benefits of stem cell banking and its current advantages. Since both cord blood and cord tissue are abundant in many types of stem cells, either one may be helpful/essential to the family members. All pregnant parents must preserve the cord blood stem cells while they have the chance because a child's birth is the sole way to obtain these priceless stem cells.

Wrapping Up

Cryoviva Biotech Private Limited specialises in collecting, processing, and storing high-quality umbilical cord blood stem cells for private banking. We are dedicated to offering excellent services by utilizing cutting-edge processing and stem cell storage technology certified by international authorities. We are pursuing national and worldwide cooperation to deliver "best of class" stem cell facilities. We harvest cord blood stem cells using the "closed bag" collection method, which considerably lowers the potential of cord blood contamination and employs technology.