Mason Shaffer Foundation || Save a Life ... Donate Cord Blood


CORD BLOOD DONATION \| MSF NEWS \| M.A.S.O.N. \| THE FOUNDATION \| MASON'S STORY --

What is cord blood?

After the birth of a baby, the blood remaining in a portion of the umbilical cord and placenta is called placental blood or umbilical cord blood, or simply “cord blood.” This extra blood is not needed by the baby. All normal elements of blood–red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma–are contained in cord blood. It is also rich in hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells, like those found in bone marrow. Cord blood can be used for transplantation instead of bone marrow because it does not have to match a patient’s tissue type as closely as bone marrow does. Stem cells found in cord blood have been used to treat more than 40 diseases. Some of these are sickle cell anemia, leukemia, and cancer–just to name a few.

Immediately after a baby’s birth, before the placenta has been delivered, cord blood is collected. The blood is taken from the cord only after it has been clamped and cut, so there is no risk to the baby or the mother. In the past, umbilical cords and placental tissue were just discarded as medical waste. Now parents can choose to preserve this material for the potential benefit of their own family, members of the community, or the public in general.

steps to cord blood donation

If you are delivering at Bryn Mawr Hospital or Lankenau Medical Center in the Philadelphia area, these are the steps that you will go through to donate your baby’s umbilical cord blood for free. If you are delivering elsewhere, the resources at right will help you determine your options.

Step 1
At some point between 18 and 32 weeks, you MUST pre-register. You have 2 options – fill out the pre-registration form on this site – click here – OR call 866.SAV.CORD and pre-register with a cord blood coordinator at Community Blood Services (CBS).

Step 2
CBS will then send you a health questionnaire. This questionnaire will take you approximately 15 to 30 minutes to complete. You will be asked personal information such as demographic data, health history, and family genetic history. This is necessary to help evaluate the suitability of the cord blood unit for transplant. Please fill out the questionnaire as soon as you receive it and send back to CBS right away.

Step 3
The medical advisors at CBS will review your health questionnaire. If they have any questions, they will call you. Make sure that you call them back right away. IF you have to leave a message, tell them the best time to reach you to minimize any potential communication issues.

Step 4
After it is determined that you are qualified to donate (based on your questionnaire), you will be sent your cord blood donation delivery paperwork. Put it with your insurance card in your purse so that you remember to bring it with you to the hospital. You DO NOT have to fill out this paperwork before you get to the hospital, most of it is for the nurse and doctor to fill out after you have the baby.

You MUST be at least 34 weeks pregnant to donate. Also - this paperwork MUST be taken with you to the hospital for you to be able to complete the process and donate your baby's umbilical cord blood.
We now have all donation cord blood collection kits stored at the hospital, however as noted above, if you are not at least 34 weeks pregnant and if you do not have your paperwork, they will not be able to collect.

IF at any point during steps 1 – 4 you have questions or encounter problems with the process, contact us either contact us by email OR by phone at 302.765.2875.

Step 5
Inform your doctor that you are donating your baby’s cord blood through The Mason Shaffer Public Cord Blood Program so they can note it in your chart.

Step 6
When you get to the hospital, hand the kit to the nurse in triage, they will know what to do with it from there! Mom’s blood will also be obtained for testing purposes, within 48 hours of your delivery; it normally happens around the time of the cord blood collection.

Step 7
Have a wonderful labor, a beautiful baby, and enjoy your family’s special day!

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trusted Resources

The New Jersey Cord Blood Bank (NJCBB)

Main Line Health

NMDP - Be the Match

The Brady Kohn Foundation

Parents Guide to Cord Blood Foundation

The Kasey Rose Foundation

The Dan Berger Cord Blood Program

Cord Blood Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will collecting cord blood hurt my baby or me?

There is no risk to the mother or baby because blood is collected after the baby is born, after the cord is cut, and after the placenta has been delivered. There will be no change in the way mother and baby are cared for during labor and delivery or afterward.

What is the difference between donating cord blood and storing it for my family?

Public donations are free. The cord blood tissue type is recorded and stored in a public bank until needed. If you store your baby’s cord blood privately, there is an ongoing fee for storage, and only your family can use it.

How good are my chances of saving my baby’s cord blood?

If you are healthy, and if you are delivering one baby (rather than two or more), your chances for collecting are higher than they might otherwise be. Ask your doctor about your particular case.

Are cord blood stem cells part of the stem cell debates that I hear about in the news?

No. Cord blood stem cells are free of political and ethical debate. Many states are introducing legislation to educate families about the options for their baby’s cord blood. To read about the United States government’s support and legislation, visit http://bloodcell.transplant.hrsa.gov/.

If I donate to the public blood bank, will I have access to it if I need it?

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is a national data base where any person needing a transplant can search for a compatible cord blood. Cord blood units are provided based on this need. By donating your baby's cord blood to a public registry you consent to make it available to anyone at anytime in need of a transplant. There is no way to predict if your cord blood donation will be eligible for listing or if it would be available to you or a family member if a future need were to arise. There is no guarantee of product availability.

Don’t let your baby’s cord blood go to waste!

Parents can:

Donate cords for research;
Donate to a public bank and help members in the community who may need the cells, and usually coordinate matching cord blood to patients through established cord blood programs;
Save in contracted private banks for your family. These banks are for-profit organizations that charge fees to store cord blood for the exclusive use of the donor.

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Information contained on this Web site is not a substitute for a doctor's medical judgment or advice. The MSF recommends that you discuss your specific, individual health concerns with your doctor or health care professional. The materials and discussions presented here describe current treatment options and drugs or treatments that may be under study, and are for informational purposes only. Treatment options or donation procedures should be determined by an individual and his or her treating doctor based on the individual's overall health, age, disease, disease stage, and, if transplant is being considered as a treatment option, the availability of a suitably matched adult donor or umbilical cord blood unit.