CORD BLOOD DONATION

Cord Blood Donation Process

In this lunch and learn, join Diane Davis (Clinical Midwife Advisor: Innovation & Development for Anthony Nolan Cord Blood Programme) who gives an insight into Anthony Nolan's Cord Blood Programme.

Although the Anthony Nolan Register has over 900,000 potential donors, there are still people in need of a transplant who die because a match can’t be found for them. 72% of people from white northern European backgrounds find the best possible match from an unrelated donor, compared to 37% of people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Watch this video to find out more about why the Cord Blood Programme is so vital to help meet the unmet need for transplants, and how it has become life-changing for patients with rare tissue types.

The Anthony Nolan Cord Blood Programme was established in 2008 to help meet the unmet need for transplants.

There are currently collection sites at five hospitals throughout the UK - two are based here in Leicester - one at the Royal Infirmary and one at the General Hospital.

The sites have been deliberately selected to be based at hospitals with high birth rates and significant Black, Asian and ethnic minority populations to best meet national transplant needs.

Since the programme opened in 2008, over 67,000 cord blood units have been collected overall.

So, why is cord blood so useful?

The blood from the umbilical cord and placenta is a rich source of stems cells, capable of replenishing a patient’s bone marrow in a transplant setting. It is used to treat a variety of life-limiting conditions, including:

Blood malignancies, such as leukaemia and lymphoma
Bone marrow failure syndromes
Haemoglobinopathies, or blood disorders, such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia
Immunodeficiencies
Metabolic disorders

If you have any questions about the Cord Blood Programme call the Leicester General collection team on 07909 907 231 or the Leicester Royal Infirmary collection team on 07909 907 215.

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