As a public service, Cord Blood Registry(SM) (CBR) provides the Designated Transplant Program (DTP), free of charge, to families wishing to store their newborn's umbilical cord blood stem cells for a family member diagnosed with a life-threatening disease treated by stem cells. This includes diseases such as Sickle Cell Anemia and Acute and Chronic Leukemias.

This community program allows families in need, regardless of their financial situation but who meet certain medical criteria, to avail themselves of genetically related stem cells, the preferred choice by transplanters. Studies have shown related stem cell transplants provide double the survival rate over unrelated stem cell transplants, with far less rejection issues, thereby reducing the need for a lifetime of drugs.

As a Caucasian, the odds of finding a bone marrow donor are approximately 20,000 to 1. The odds for ethnic minority populations are hundreds of thousands to one, as they are much less represented in the traditional bone marrow donor registries. Cord blood improves these odds significantly.

To date, over 6,000 cord blood transplants have been performed.

All families who meet the qualification criteria can now have access to this cutting-edge technology without any charge. There are currently over 1,000 patients in the DTP, with funding provided by CBR's family banking program.

How to Qualify
In order to qualify, the family member must be diagnosed with a disease that is currently treatable with umbilical cord blood stem cells, be a first- or second-degree blood relative, and have an oncologist who agrees that the stem cells can be used for treatment. If eligible, Cord Blood Registry will provide the collection kit and process and store the newborn's cord blood sample, until needed, without any cost to the family.

For more information on the Designated Transplant Program, please contact Cord Blood Registry at 1-888-932-6568.

• More Transplant Experience Than Any Other Family Bank
• Long-Term Profitability and Financial Stability
• Over 450,000 Units Cryopreserved*