Title: An act relating to umbilical cord blood.

Brief Description: Regarding the collection of umbilical cord blood.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Schual-Berke, Cody, Barlow, Hudgins, Hunt, Green, Hasegawa, Pedersen, Loomis, Santos and Kagi).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/08, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 2/20/08.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Staff: Rhoda Donkin (786-7465)

Background: Cord blood banks, both private and public, store placental and umbilical cord blood that is collected from newborns. Public banks accept cord blood donations, store the cord blood anonymously without charge, and make it available to any patient that needs it. Private banks store the donor's collected cord blood for a fee, and the stored blood is intended for future use by the donor or donor's family.

In scientific literature, cord blood is discussed for its potential in using stem cells in regenerative medicine. These are unspecialized cells, capable of replicating and ultimately being used as specialized cells. One type of stem cell has already been used in transplants to treat leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, and certain other inherited disorders.

Cord blood produces cells that have a lower risk of poor immune response in transplantation than cells used from other sources, such as bone marrow. According to medical literature, collecting cord blood presents minimal risk to mother and infant.

Washington law requires persons providing prenatal care or practicing medicine to provide certain information to their pregnant patients about prenatal tests. This information must be provided within time limits and according to standards established by the Department of Health.

Summary of Bill: The Department of Health (DOH) must identify, support, and fund a work group charged with expanding umbilical cord blood collection practices. The work group must represent: a major health research institution engaged in premature birth research, a nationally recognized cancer treatment and research institution, a nonprofit blood bank engaged in umbilical cord blood collection, an accredited private cord blood bank engaged in cord blood collection,
and an organization representing hospitals.

The work group must develop model educational materials for expectant parents and health care providers, protocols for hospitals and blood banks collection of umbilical cord blood, and methods to decrease cost of banking.

DOH, in consultation with the work group, must identify a research institution to participate
in a pilot project in three hospitals in eastern Washington. The three hospitals will be selected for the purpose of increasing ethnic and racial diversity of cord blood units collected for research and transplantation.

By July 1, 2010, DOH must submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor on the work group's recommendations and finding of the pilot projects.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.