This is the first time eight-year data was published by a family cord blood bank, and these survival rates represent the highest published survival rates in family banking. The results show that the cord blood collected and processed by ViaCord met or exceeded expectations regarding their clinical utility and confirm the importance of cord blood banking.

Dr. Mahendra Patel, MD, pediatric hematologist/oncologist in San Antonio, Texas, said, "Cord blood banking is critical to society as a whole given cord blood stem cells' multiple medical uses. Companies such as ViaCord provide families with access to stem cells at a time when other medical options are limited or non-existent. ViaCord is a leader in bringing this valuable resource for families to the forefront of public awareness."

ViaCord intends to continue publishing its updated post-transplant survival rates and provide excellence in family cord blood banking services. ViaCord will also continue to raise awareness about the importance of cord blood banking in the hopes of giving more families access to cord blood stem cells for current and future potential treatments.

ViaCord allows expectant families the opportunity to preserve their baby's umbilical cord blood for potential medical use by the child or a related family member. To date, ViaCord has preserved over 230,000 newborns' umbilical cord blood.

SOURCE PerkinElmer, Inc.