Cord blood donation and transplantation
Published on 23 April 2025
Umbilical cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells capable of reconstituting the bone marrow of patients suffering from serious blood diseases such as leukemia. Collected at birth, with the parents' consent, these cells can be preserved for later transplantation into a compatible patient. To guarantee the efficiency and safety of this chain of solidarity, the Agence de la biomédecine oversees all activities relating to cord blood donation, storage and transplantation in France.
Organizing donation and guaranteeing the quality of transplants
Cord blood donation is organized nationally around the French Placenta Blood Network, coordinated by the French Biomedicine Agency (Agence de la biomédecine). This network brings together maternity units authorized to collect cord blood at the time of delivery, and specialized banks responsible for processing it, checking its quality and storing it with a view to future transplantation. The Agence issues authorizations to the establishments involved in this chain, defines financing arrangements and draws up best practice recommendations for healthcare professionals. It ensures that stored grafts meet medical requirements and can be made rapidly available to patients who need them. It also monitors the state of health of donors and coordinates a biovigilance system to prevent any incidents linked to donation or transplantation.
Managing knowledge and informing the public
The Agence de la biomédecine collects, consolidates and analyzes data from maternity units, cord blood banks and transplants carried out in France. This data is used to monitor changes in practices, assess the effectiveness of the system and guide public decision-making. The Agency also supports research in this field, through an annual call for projects. It works closely with healthcare professionals, public institutions, learned societies and patient associations, all of whom contribute to ensuring the availability, quality and optimal use of cord blood transplants. Finally, it provides the general public with clear information on the usefulness of donation, how it works and its benefits for patients.