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The Dan Berger Cord Blood Program 

Our program gives parents the option of preserving their baby's umbilical cord blood for future health care needs or research.

Learn more about Dan Berger and the history of the cord blood banking program (PDF).


Cord Blood Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Cord blood is the blood that's left in part of the umbilical cord and placenta after the baby's birth. The baby doesn't need this extra blood.

Cord blood has all the same aspects as normal blood:

  • Red blood cells
  • White blood cells
  • Platelets
  • Plasma

It's also rich in blood-forming stem cells, like those found in bone marrow.

Doctors can use cord blood for transplant instead of bone marrow. Cord blood doesn't have to match a person's tissue type as closely as bone marrow does.

Stem cells found in cord blood can treat blood cancer such as leukemia and lymphoma.

Doctors collect cord blood right after a baby's birth, but before the placenta delivery. They take blood only after clamping and cutting the cord, so there's no risk to the baby or the mother.

In the past, hospitals threw away umbilical cords and placental tissue as medical waste. Now parents can choose to preserve this material for the chance to help their own family, community, or the public.

No.

Doctors collect cord blood outside of your body after you give birth and they cut the cord.

There's no risk and no change in the way we care for you and your baby before, during, and after delivery.

If you: donate cord blood to a public bank,

Then the bank:

  • Doesn't charge you any fees.
  • Lists your baby's cord blood tissue type with the National Marrow Donor Program.
  • Stores it until there's a need to use it for a transplant.

If you: store your baby's cord blood privately,

Then the bank:

  • Charges an ongoing storage.
  • Only releases it to you or your family for use.

You also can donate it to research, which doesn't have fees.

No.

Umbilical cord blood stem cells are:

  • Free of political and ethical debate.
  • Not embryonic stem cells.

Learn more about the U.S. government's support of cord blood donation and transplant.

Yes.

If you decide on delayed clamping, doctors will check the cord itself for blood after delivery. If there's not enough cord blood to use for transplant, doctors won't collect the donation.

For a private storage bank, doctors will collect the cord blood after delayed clamping since you're paying for the storage.

To Donate:

  • Ask the Dan Berger Cord Blood Program to mail you the donation forms.
  • Print the forms from the Vitalant cord blood donor bank website.
  • Log in or create a cord blood donor account at the Vitalant website and complete them forms online.

Hospitals keep all cord blood donation kits.

To Store:

  • Choose which private bank you want to store with.
  • Contact thee to receive your kit and set-up your payment plan.

In an emergency, hospitals also keep private kits.


Don't Let Your Baby's Cord Blood Go to Waste

The Dan Berger Cord Blood Program is unique in that it offers parents three options from which to choose:

  1. Donate your baby's cord blood to research to help mankind.
  2. Donate to a public bank and help others who may need the cells. The National Marrow Donor Program usually handles matching cord blood to those in need. Magee has a contract with Vitalant cord blood donor bank.
  3. Save your baby's cord blood in one of the contracted private banks for your family, including ViaCord or Cord Blood Registry. These banks are for-profit and charge fees to store cord blood for the exclusive use of the donor.

Learn more about cord blood banking options

Do you want to know more about umbilical cord blood banking? Or do you need help making an informed decision about what to do with your baby's cord blood?

  • Watch the cord blood banking options video below to learn more.
  • Talk to your doctor.
  • Contact Mary Wiegel at the Dan Berger Cord Blood Program by phone 412-209-7479 or email.

More Cord Blood Banking Resources

  • Dan Berger Cord Blood Program Brochure (PDF)
  • Find information sessions for expectant parents.
  • Donate to the Dan Berger Cord Blood Program

Contact Us

If you want to learn more about us, contact Mary Wiegel, at 412-209-7479 or by email.

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