http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8556359.stm
Parents, hospitals and private firms are being warned over risky and illegal collections of umbilical cord blood. The Human Tissue Authority said if proper guidelines were not followed samples may be contaminated and safety compromised on maternity wards. The regulator has received reports of untrained and unlicensed people taking the blood – with one sample even obtained in a hospital car park. The blood is sought because of its potential role in combating disease. It is a rich source of stem cells, which are used to help treat diseases such as leukaemia.