In the United States, approximately 20 percent of patients searching for a bone marrow donor will die before a match is found. Since cord blood contains the same type of stem cells as bone marrow, it offers additional hope for patients. Cord blood has shown potential as more flexible than bone marrow in patient matching. UF physicians transplant cord blood into patients for whom other treatments have not worked. Cord blood donations are searchable alongside bone marrow donors.
Physicians seek the best stem cell match for any given patient.
LifeCord is a program of LifeSouth Community Blood Centers developed in cooperation with the University of Florida College of Medicine and the Shands at UF Stem Cell Laboratory. LifeCord is a community cord blood bank and has been accepted by the FDA as an Investigational New Drug research program. Cord blood collections are performed by LifeSouth staff and physicians and nurses trained on LifeCord procedures. Currently, collections are limited to North Florida Regional Medical Center, Shands at AGH, Shands at UF, Shands at LakeShore, The Birthing Center, The Patient's Corner, as well as the Baptist South and Baptist East Hospitals in Montgomery .