New regulations for the use of the DIY kits will be introduced from July 5 this year. The new law aims to curb the use of DIY kits for collecting blood from umbilical cords. According to the rules issued by the Human Tissue Authority, every hospital and clinic will need a license to ensure that the blood is collected by trained staff following correct procedures. Cord blood, rich in stem cell, can be used in various complicated diseases. Cord blood collected from from a baby’s umbilical cord is stored in liquid nitrogen, for future use. But the growth of private banks, which send out DIY collection kits to couples, has worried medical authorities. The Human Tissue Authority has issued the regulation to make sure of the collected samples as well as the proper procedure of collecting cord blood. It makes sure that each clinic employs the right candidate for the task. Source: THE INDEPENDENT