Once the baby is born and the umbilical cord cut, a nurse whisks away the umbilical cord and spongy red placenta, or afterbirth. This is the organ that supported the baby while in the womb. The placenta and the umbilical cord are placed in a metal basin and covered with a sterile cloth. Then they are taken immediately from the birthing room to the lab. Time is crucial.
Research shows that immediately after the cord is cut, blood can start clotting.
Clotting reduces the amount that can be collected - which in turn limits the usefulness of a collection. Once in the lab, the placenta and umbilical cord together rest in an absorbent sling suspended several feet above a lab table. Gravity helps drain the blood into a sterile collection bag, while the nurse works to withdraw it with a needle. The more blood collected, the more stem cells there are available to grow new blood in another person. Research done by Dr. John Wagner at the University of Minnesota shows the success of a cord blood transplant depends on the number of stem cells transplanted .