Viacord

If your child needs a stem cell treatment, there is nothing more important than a successful outcome. Stem cell transplants are often used in medical situations where success means survival. Many factors can impact survival rate, including the source of the stem cells. Are they from bone marrow or cord blood? Are they from a relative or an unrelated donor? And does that donor provide the best possible HLA match?

Playing the matchmaker
A successful allogeneic transplant of cord blood or bone marrow starts with a successful match of tissue type. Located on the cells in your body are antigens that act as markers. These markers allow the body to recognize/distinguish self cells and foreign cells. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing is used to match these markers in the donor to the recipient.

The match criteria is determined by the transplant doctor for each unique medical case – a perfect match is always the goal. The better the match, the less likely it is a donor’s cells will attack a patient’s cells after transplant (also known as Graft vs. Host disease (GVHD). According…

If you had to summarize the value of a stem cell in one word, it would be potential. This is because stem cells hold extraordinary potential – they are not only the building blocks of our organs, tissues, blood and immune system, they also have the ability to develop into different cell types in the human body.

Unlike any other cell in the human body, stem cells have three unique and remarkable characteristics. Stem cells are unspecialized, can divide and renew themselves without differentiating and in certain circumstances, a stem cell can also become a specialized cell in a process known as differentiation. This unique ability for stem cells to divide, differentiate and specialize is what makes stem cells invaluable in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. To learn more about how stem cells work, visit the National Institute of Health’s introduction to stem cells.

Early diagnostics reduce healthcare costs; improve quality of life

Recently, PerkinElmer CEO Robert Friel was interviewed on FOX Business News to discuss the state of the nation’s healthcare—and how the global life sciences company is doing its part to ensure a healthier future for all. The parent company of ViaCord, PerkinElmer designs and delivers advanced technology solutions that address the world’s most critical health and safety concerns. For example, PerkinElmer is the leading worldwide provider of neonatal screening systems that have helped identify more than 100,000 newborns at risk of inherited metabolic disorders.

In the FOX interview, Mr. Friel stressed the importance of early diagnostics in keeping health care costs down and improving quality of life. For instance, by opting into newborn screening programs for early detection of health threats, parents may be able to help their child receive therapeutic intervention earlier, leading to a more successful outcome. There is often a positive financial outcome as well—early awareness and intervention can help families avoid costly procedures further down the line and improve quality of life, which also reduces costs for employers, insurers…