The present invention provides an improved kit for the collection of
umbilical cord blood and placental blood, and collection of the placenta
from which such blood is obtained. The kit improves upon existing kits in
that it provides for improved user convenience, provides for the
collection of the placenta itself, and better maintains the internal
temperature of the container in which the collected blood and placenta
are shipped to a blood bank or registry. The invention further provides a
method of collecting umbilical cord and placental blood, and the placenta
from which such blood is obtained, comprising using the kit described
herein.