St. David's joins cord blood donation program

On April 17, St. David's Georgetown Hospital became the first Williamson County hospital to be an official member of the Texas Cord Blood Bank's collection program, according to a news release.

By joining TCBB, a division of the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, expectant mothers are able to donate their baby's umbilical cord blood at no cost and with little effort, a news release stated.

Umbilical cord blood may be used as treatment for leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia and genetic disorders such as sickle cell anemia, according to information on the TCBB website.

Many of the patients who benefit from cord blood donations are children, the release stated.

"It benefits the public," said Erin Huff, supervisor of Women's Services at St. David's Georgetown. "We send the specimens to San Antonio, where it goes to a statewide and national donor bank. If we have other outside patients that could benefit from cord blood, that would be the best benefit for us."

The STBTC receives and tests cord blood for usability. If the specimen meets standards, it can be used anywhere it is needed, Huff said.

Besides public banking, parents also have the option of using the related donor program.

"If you have a child who has a condition that may require stem cells, they'll bank the new baby's cord blood for free," Huff said.