For anyone considering private cord blood banking, it is important to understand its potential.

The HTA licenses both public and private umbilical cord blood banks in the UK.

This section explains the different types of umbilical cord blood banking.

Since 5 July 2008, the HTA has regulated the collection, testing, processing, storage, distribution, import and export of cord blood. In the UK these are ‘licensable activities’ and can only lawfully take place under an HTA licence.

We have created this guide to help parents to make informed choices about cord blood banking. It has been developed through engagement with cord blood experts and centres on our ‘Three key messages about cord blood banking’.

Umbilical cord blood, commonly referred to as ‘cord blood’, is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following childbirth. Cord blood can be used to treat and cure many life-threatening diseases. Cord blood may be collected at the time of birth and stored, so that it is available for the potential future treatment of the child or another person. 

Information on the regulation of bone marrow or PBSC.

These guides set out your basic rights when dealing with an establishment regulated by the HTA.

The guides also explain how the use of human tissue is regulated in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. This includes who can give consent for different activities, the information you should receive and options for using and disposing of tissue.

There are eight guides in total, each relating to the Codes of Practice we provide to professionals.

Information on how you can donate your brain after death for research, as well as information on how the practice is regulated.

Find out more about the regulation of tissue donation for research.

Our role is to provide an independent check to help protect the interests of living organ donors. They ensure each individual donor has an opportunity to speak freely to someone not connected with the transplant unit in order to confirm that: