ORANGE
The cord blood bank at Children’s Hospital of Orange County has applied to become part of an international web of hospitals and organizations that use cord blood in patients needing bone marrow transplants.
Since its creation last year, CHOC’s cord blood bank has collected more than 200 samples of blood from umbilical cords. Mothers donate the placenta and cords after childbirth. Stem cells harvested from the cords are similar to those in bone marrow and can be used in people needing marrow transplants.
CHOC has applied to the National Marrow Donor Program to be approved as an NMDP-affiliated cord blood bank. If accepted, CHOC will become the seventh such bank in the country.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
