To be a donor, there are number of criteria you would need to fulfill. This would help to ensure that the umbilical cord blood collected, processed and stored meet the stringent quality and standards necessary for use in stem cell transplants.

 Below is a list of conditions that would exclude a mother from donating her baby's umbilical cord blood:

1. Family history of inherited or acquired blood disorders or immunological disorders, e.g. G6PD Deficiency in father, mother or baby's sibling.
2. Any personal history of cancer, blood disease (iron deficiency and thalassaemia minor acceptable) or bleeding problem.
3. Parental consanguinity (blood related marriages up to first cousins).
4. Personal or family history of Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (Mad Cow Disease).
5. Received a transfusion of blood products in the United Kingdom or injected bovine (beef) insulin.
6. Ever received human pituitary-derived growth hormones (FS or a dura mater [brain covering] graft).
7. Diagnosed with Malaria in the last three years.
8. Previously rejected or refused as a blood donor.
9. Maternal transfusion of immunoglobulins, whole blood, or other blood products received within one year of conception and delivery or use of blood clotting factors anytime before.
10. Past history of yellow jaundice or liver disease.
11. Recreational drug use with a needle, even once.
12. Any of the following in the last 12 months: a tattoo, ear piercing, skin piercing, acupuncture, electrolysis, graft, injury from a needle, or contact with someone else's blood.
13. History of AIDS or positive test for HIV, HTLV, HPV, Syphillis, Hepatitis A, B or C in the baby's mother or father.
14. Sexually transmitted diseases.
15. Sex with male who has had sex with another male, even once.
16. History of involvement in the sex trade (giving or receiving money or drugs for someone to have sex with you).
17. Recipient of organ transplant of any kind.
18. Are under the age of 18.
19. Unable to answer the Medical History on behalf of the family and baby's father.

Should you have further queries about the exclusion criteria or about your eligibility as a donor, please do not hesitate to contact SCBB at 6394 5011 or email at info@scbb.com.sg