How is the umbilical cord blood collected and stored, and how long is it usable?

Collecting and storing umbilical cord blood is a straightforward and safe process. After the baby’s birth, the midwife collects the blood in a specialized container designed for the umbilical cord. Typically, the amount of blood collected ranges from 50-150 ml. This procedure is painless and poses no risk to the mother or newborn. The collected blood is then transported to a laboratory within 24 hours, where it undergoes processing and is stored at -196⁰C in liquid nitrogen. This ultra-low temperature ensures that the stem cells in the umbilical cord’s blood retain their biological activity indefinitely. They are always ready for thawing and use whenever the need arises.