AABB to Host Cord Blood Twitter Takeover on July 27

Despite its potential value in treating diseases, most umbilical cord blood in the United States – and the hematopoietic stem cells it contains — continue to be discarded as medical waste. To promote saving and storing cord blood and to illustrate its potentially life-saving properties, the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ National Health Information Center has designated July as National Cord Blood Awareness Month.

In support of Cord Blood Awareness Month, AABB has planned several activities to raise awareness of cord blood banking and its public health benefit. Throughout the month, AABB will share complimentary resources and social media graphics that highlight cord blood and its role in stem cell transplants. AABB will also highlight cord blood research on the AABB Newsfeed.

On Wednesday, July 27, AABB will hold a Twitter takeover hosted by the co-chairs of AABB’s Cord Blood Subsection: Asawari Bapat, MBBS, DPB, PGDHHM, and Vasiliki E. Kalodimou, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD. During the takeover, Bapat and Kalodimou will share how cord blood is collected, processed and stored, as well as how cord blood stem cells can help save lives. AABB encourages the community to follow along on AABB’s Twitter account.

AABB also encourages members who are interested in cord blood to join AABB’s Cord Blood Subsection, which meets monthly to discuss  donor issues for public banking (recruitment, consent, screening/testing), manufacturing, storage and transport challenges, licensure, international issues, and private and family banking issues.