BMJ  2008;336:981 (3 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39567.422905.DB

News

UK hospitals that offer cord blood collection will need licence from July

Owen Dyer

1 London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The fast growing practice of collecting blood from the umbilical cords of newborn infants is to be regulated for the first time in the United Kingdom. Cord blood, a source of very "naive" blood stem cells, is used to treat some types of anaemia and leukaemia and may hold promise in treating other diseases.

The Human Tissue Authority announced this week that all maternity units, whether NHS or private, that collect cord blood must be operating under a licence by 5 July.

An unknown number of private companies are currently offering a cord blood collection service. They too will need a licence under the new regulations and must give an undertaking that cord blood will be collected by people with specialist training on premises that meet set standards. The authority estimates that between 100 and 250 public and private organisations will apply for a licence under the new rules.

Adrian . . . [Full text of this article]


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Regulate for safety of the baby
David JR Hutchon
bmj.com, 3 May 2008 [Full text]

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