Stem cell banking involves collecting umbilical cord blood, which contains stem cells. These stem cells can be banked for future medical use at a stem cell bank. A stem cell bank is a facility that stores stem cells, which are derived from amniotic fluid, and are stored to be used in the future by the person who banked them.
How Does This Benefit Me?
Stem cells have medical properties that can save a life, therefore banking stem cells for later use can be medically beneficial. Stem cells are cells that are unspecialized and can produce an indefinite amount of new cells. Stem cells serve as an internal repair system, dividing and multiplying to replenish dying cells. When the cells divide, they can either remain a stem cell or become a cell with a specialized function that is needed in an injured area of the body.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cells can be used for stem cell therapy, which is a self-healing therapy that uses the patient’s own cells to heal another injured area. Stem cell therapy involves isolating stem cells from one area of the body and relocating them to an area of disease or injury. The stem cells then grow to become the type of cells the body needs in that area.