Introduction

In the world of new findings and around more than 130 million global annual births, Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) is the most plentiful source of the stem cells having the potential of regeneration for clinical significance. It provides effective cure by the spectrum of diseases and mostly used against the blood disorders (Roura et al., 2015). Although the technologies have been advanced in the field of stem cells, still there are many people unaware about the stem cells, and its technologies, developed for the health care worldwide.

Stem Cells

In 1900s, Maximow proposed that the lymphocytes migrated through tissues to form blood circulation components and acted as common stem cells. In 1960s, the research on stem cells cleared its beginning as known today. Stem cells can be defined as the cell having the capacity to divide and make its copy or may transform into any type of cells. Stem cells can be classified as totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent or unipotent depending on its potency. Stem cells can be categorized according to its source of origin that from which tissue it is obtained named as Embryonic Stem Cells, Adult Stem Cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Neonatal Stem Cells and Umbilical cord blood stem cells.

The umbilical cord as a source of stem cells

Since 20 years, umbilical cord blood has been used clinically as a source of haematopoietic stem cells transplantation. The embryo attached via connecting stalk to form placenta from the third week of developmental process which transforms into the umbilical cord afterwards. The stem cells can be provided by the umbilical cord through blood running in the umbilical vessels, walls surrounding the vessels and from the Wharton’s jelly, which are collected at the time of birth using sterile collection kit having anticoagulant (usually citrate or heparin) in it (Forraz and McGuckin, 60-62).