Banking obstetric–related tissues and cells: what every maternity unit must know

Cord blood (CB) is rich in haemopoietic stem cells, and can be used instead of bone marrow (BM) for transplantation of patients with leukaemia, immunodeficiency or metabolic diseases. Private banking of CB to treat various degenerative diseases is not evidence based, but regenerative medicine deserves ongoing review of progress. Autologous CB for treatment of BM disease is very unusual. If hospitals permit private collection of CB, it should be taken by a trained third party. Mesenchymal stem cells, present in very small numbers in CB and in larger numbers in cord matrix, may have potential use in regenerative medicine. Ethical issues relating to consent, testing and ownership of CB have largely been resolved, but timing of cord clamping and private versus public banking of CB is controversial.