Cord Blood Donation: Overlake Hospital's Offering

Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington, has a partnership with Bloodworks Northwest, a non-profit community cord blood bank. The hospital offers its patients the opportunity to donate cord blood to the Bloodworks Cord Blood Donation Program, which collects donations directly in Washington state and from collection programs in Hawaii. Cord blood donation involves collecting blood from a clamped and cut umbilical cord, which is usually thrown away after birth, and saving it for potential stem cell transplants. The process is free for parents, as public cord blood banks cover the costs of collection, testing, and storage.

Bloodworks Northwest

Cord blood donation is when blood from a clamped and cut umbilical cord is saved for potential stem cell transplant, rather than being thrown away. After the cord blood unit is collected by a trained cord blood donation collector, it is transported to the Cord Blood Program at Bloodworks Northwest in downtown Seattle. The stem cells are then isolated and, if they meet the banking requirements, are frozen in liquid nitrogen with a protectant and stored until they are needed for a transplant.

Cord blood donation process

Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington, does indeed collect cord blood donations. Bloodworks Northwest, a public cord blood bank, collects donations directly in Washington state.

The process of donating cord blood is simple and causes no pain to the mother or baby. To donate, you must deliver your baby at a participating cord blood collection facility. Before the birth of your baby, you will need to sign a consent form and be asked for a blood sample to be tested for infectious diseases.

After delivery, a trained cord blood collector will drain the umbilical cord of blood and stem cells. This is done by drawing blood from the clamped and cut cord, using a needle and collection bag similar to blood collection. The donation is then sent to a cord blood bank for processing. If the donation meets all the qualification criteria, it will be listed on the registry and stored until needed by a patient.

Cord blood donation is important as it provides a genetically diverse inventory of stem cells for transplants. These stem cells can be used to treat blood cancers and disorders, such as leukemia and lymphoma, and can be life-saving for those who need a bone marrow transplant.

Cord blood donation requirements

Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington, does collect cord blood donations. Bloodworks Northwest, a cord blood bank, collects donations directly in Washington state.

• Pregnancy details: Donors must be carrying a single baby, with no multiples such as twins or triplets. The pregnancy must also be at least 37 weeks at the time of delivery.
• Maternal age: The donor mother must be at least 18 years of age to provide informed consent for the donation.
• Medical history: There should be no history of blood cell disorders or cancers in the baby's immediate family, including the parents and siblings.
• Delivery type: Most public cord blood banks accept donations after vaginal deliveries or C-section births.
• Consent form: Before donation, you will be required to sign a consent form agreeing to donate the umbilical cord blood for public use. The form will state that the donated cord blood may be used by any patient needing a transplant or for research purposes if it cannot be used for transplantation.
• Notification: It is essential to inform your doctor, midwife, or the hospital staff, including the labour and delivery nurse, about your decision to donate.
• Blood sample: Before or after the birth of your baby, you will be asked to provide a blood sample to be tested for infectious diseases. This is a standard procedure to ensure the donated cord blood is safe for transplantation.
• Collection process: After delivery, a trained cord blood collector will collect the umbilical cord blood. The process involves draining the blood and stem cells from the clamped and cut umbilical cord before it is discarded.
• Evaluation and storage: The collected cord blood unit is then evaluated for specific banking criteria, including weight, volume, and the number of cells. If the donation meets the requirements, it is frozen and stored until needed for transplantation.

It is important to note that each cord blood bank may have its own specific instructions and requirements. Therefore, it is advisable to contact the cord blood bank associated with your hospital to understand their unique donation process and requirements.

Cord blood donation collection sites

Expectant parents can donate cord blood to public cord blood banks, which are typically collected by trained cord blood collectors at hospitals. These hospitals include Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, WA, Swedish Medical Center in First Hill (Seattle) and Issaquah, WA, and UW Medical Center in Montlake Seattle, WA. Bloodworks Northwest collects cord blood donations directly in Washington state and also receives donations from collection programs in Hawaii.

Cord blood donation is a process where blood from a clamped and cut umbilical cord is saved for potential stem cell transplants instead of being thrown away. The collected blood, called a cord blood unit, is given a special number and stored temporarily. The day after the baby is born, the mother's blood is taken to be tested for infectious diseases. The cord blood unit is then sent to a public cord blood bank, where it is checked to ensure it has enough blood-forming cells for a transplant.

To donate cord blood, expectant parents should first talk with their doctor or midwife about their decision and then call a cord blood bank to see if their hospital is a participating collection site. If the hospital collects cord blood donations, the labour and delivery team should be informed, and a consent form will need to be signed. Basic health guidelines and eligibility requirements must be met, and a blood sample will be requested to test for infectious diseases.

Cord blood donation is a generous gift that may change someone's life. It offers a solution for people who do not have a bone marrow match, especially for non-Caucasian ethnic groups with low chances of finding a match.

Benefits of cord blood donation

Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington, does participate in cord blood donation. Bloodworks Northwest collects cord blood donations directly in Washington state.

Cord blood donation is when blood from a clamped and cut umbilical cord, instead of being thrown away, is saved for potential stem cell transplants. Cord blood contains valuable and potentially lifesaving stem cells, which can help treat several life-threatening diseases. Stem cells can help treat cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma, bone marrow diseases requiring a transplant, anaemia like sickle cell disease, and certain immune system disorders. Researchers have found cord blood to be effective in treating up to 80 diseases.

Cord blood donation can make a difference in the lives of families impacted by devastating blood cancers and immune disorders. Cord blood transplantation offers a solution for people who do not have a bone marrow match, as patients may not need to genetically match an umbilical cord blood unit as closely as they would a bone marrow donor. Umbilical cord blood is especially promising for patients with diverse ethnic backgrounds and those who need a transplant urgently.

Cord blood donation is a simple process that causes no pain to the donor or the baby. There is no additional recovery time aside from the typical recovery from childbirth. The donation process doesn't cost anything to the parents donating the umbilical cord blood.

Frequently asked questions