Cord Blood Banking Arkansas

Cord Blood Banking Arkansas

Good news for those looking for Cord Blood Banking Arkansas, because the Cord Blood Bank of Arkansas recently began operations and is now available to store cord blood for public donation or private use.  This will be a state-wide cord blood bank, one of the only in the country that operates on a state level.

Donations will be accepted and entered into a network that helps find potential patients who are a match for treatment.  With approximately 40,000 births per year, Arkansas is expected to make a significant contribution to the public cord blood supply.

You can read more about it in this article from ArkansasOnline.com:

Cord-blood effort near State network to start storing cells next month

By: Evie Blad

LITTLE ROCK — A statewide network will begin collecting umbilical cord blood April 1, sending the cells to a Florida facility until the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences opens a permanent bank in July.

The Arkansas Cord Blood Bank, the first statewide storage network for umbilical stem cells in the country, will collect cord blood from women around the state who want to contribute it to a free public donation network or pay to store it for potential future use by family members.

Cord blood – blood collected from the umbilical cords of consenting mothers of newly delivered, healthy babies – contains potentially life-saving stem cells used in the treatments of diseases such as cancer. The Arkansas Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Initiative Commission on Thursday approved a $250,000 contract with Florida-based Lifeforce Cryobanks to oversee creation of the bank in Little Rock, train UAMS workers to collect and ship cord blood,and store donations collected until the Arkansas site is formally launched this summer.

“No one else in the country has a statewide bank,” said Dr. Michele Fox, director of stem-cell therapy and transfusion medicine at UAMS. “Everyone so far has had local, onsite banks, so it’s a little difficult to predict what the interest will be.”

Arkansas has about 40,000 births a year, and doctors and researchers expect the state to contribute significantly to the public supply. Fox, the medical director for the bank, fields weekly calls from pregnant women hoping the bank will be open in time to store cord blood after their babies are delivered. Arkansas currently has no facility to collect or store umbilical cord blood, Fox said. UAMS researchers now primarily focus on using adult stem cells.

Umbilical-cord-blood stem cells – an alternative to contentious embryonic stem cells – are used in medical research and to treat some patients with blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, and blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia. Some scientists believe the cells may one day be used to repair spinal-cord injuries and regenerate organ tissue, such as brain cells after a stroke, the heart muscle after a heart attack, the pancreas for diabetics and the liver for hepatitis patients.

Dr. Curtis Lowery, chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at UAMS, said most obstetricians have not recommended costly private cord-blood storage for patients unless their families have a history of cancer-related illness. But demand for the stem cells in cord blood could increase as researchers find new uses for them, he said.

“This stuff is real,” Lowery said. “It’s tangible, and it is expanding.”

Cells collected for public use are stored and connected to a network that finds potential matches for patients who could use them in treatment. Under the contract approved Thursday, cord blood collected for private use before July will be shipped to the Florida facility for storage until the Arkansas bank is opened. Blood donated for public use will remain at the Florida facility, and UAMS will collect a fee from recipients if it is used in future medical treatments. The contract is awaiting approval from the Arkansas Legislature at a
March 15 hearing. Lowery will work with UAMS faculty and obstetricians throughout the state, instructing in cord-blood collection in advance of the bank’s opening, he said.

Gov. Mike Beebe in 2007 signed into law the creation of a commission to oversee the state’s umbilical-cord blood bank. An anonymous foundation awarded the bank a $250,000 grant, matched through private contributions, and the legislation provided about $180,000 in one-time funding. The bank’s ongoing budget will be provided through optional donations on state income-tax forms, private storage fees and further contributions.

Source: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/mar/04/cord-blood-effort-near-20110304

Cord Blood Banks

Cord Blood Banks


Cord blood banks are facilities that store preserved blood from the umbilical cord of a new born. Cord blood is an excellent source of stem cells and has been proven to treat life threatening diseases like leukemia, lymphomas and sickle cell disease. Moreover, more and more potential applications for stems are discovered everyday.

Stem cells are unspecialized cells in the human body that have the ability to become other cells. For example, if they specialize into liver cells, then they will function as liver cells. They are the body’s internal repair system because they can renew themselves through cell division.

When the body needs them, they are induced to specialize and repair organs and tissues or to replace worn out cells. This unique ability of stem cells is the major reason why it has captured the attention of scientists. Cord blood banks, whether private or public, has been sprouting out like mushrooms because of the breakthrough in stem cell therapy.

Private Cord Blood Banks

Private cord blood banks store cord blood for the donor’s family and only they can access it. If a member of the family needs a transplant and is a match, then they could easily access the stem cells from the cord blood bank. Private cord blood banking may cost about $600 to $6000 for the collection, screening and preservation of the cord blood and about $90 to $120 a year for storage.

Public Cord Blood Banks

Public cord blood banks do not cost anything. You simply have to donate your newborn’s cord blood at birth. There are some hospitals that work with a network of cord blood banks for collection programs. However, anyone in need may access public cord blood banks. If a stranger needing a transplant and matches your baby’s cord blood, then it will be given to him. Research facilities can also access public cord banks.

Donating cord blood is a painless and noninvasive procedure for you baby. The blood from the umbilical cord is simply extracted within 10 minutes of the baby’s birth. After collection, the blood undergoes screening for viral infections, blood typing and other standard procedures. Then the blood is preserved by adding cryopreservatives and slow cooling until it reaches -90°C. It is then added to a tank of liquid nitrogen to keep it frozen at -196°C.

Cord blood banks in the United States can be accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks or the Foundation for the Accreditation for Cellular Therapy. If you are interested in cord blood banking, you have the option to choose between public and private or blood banks, but you should look for cord blood banks that have been accredited.

How Much Does Cord Blood Banking Cost?

How Much Does Cord Blood Banking Cost?


The human body is made up cells and stem cells have the amazing potential of specializing into other cells during early life. For this reason, a lot of studies on stem cell therapy are arising and cord blood banking is becoming more common. A newborn’s umbilical cord is rich in stem cells and if you’re an expectant parent, you have the opportunity of having the stem cell’s potential at your fingertips through cord blood banking. But you may be wondering how much does cord blood banking cost? It is by far not comparable to the number of disease that stem cells can cure.

Cord blood banking has the potential to save your child’s life. It is the process of storing stem cells from a newborn’s umbilical cord blood. Stem cells have been used in treating sickle cell disease, lymphomas, leukemia and many more life-threatening diseases. You, your baby, your other children, your family, or even a stranger can benefit from these stem cells.

Cord blood banking can either be made through a private or public cord blood bank. For a public cord blood bank, you only have to donate you child’s umbilical cord but anyone who needs it and is a match may access it. A private blood bank only allows the donor or his/her relatives to access it.

How Much Does Cord Blood Banking Cost?: A Break Down Of The Major Costs

So how much does cord blood banking cost? For a private cord blood bank it can be expensive. First you have to pay around $600 to $6000 for the collection of the sample along with other standard procedures like screening for infection, removal of red blood cells and the addition of cryopreservatives. You will only have to pay this fee once.

Next is the annual fee of $90 to $120 for storage. In order for the stem cells to be preserved, they have to be stored in liquid nitrogen. All in all, this could be very expensive; however, the benefits of stem cell therapy are worth it, especially if you have a risk factor for a disease treated by it. Even your relatives and descendants may benefit. A slight match can hugely improve the chances of a successful transplant.

Keep in mind though that for genetic problems, stems cell may not be the answer your looking for as a baby’s just inherit genes from their parents. However, studies on the benefits of stem cells for more common ailments like ischemic heart disease, bone fractures and others are already on going.

It is up to you to decide if you want to venture into cord blood banking. If you are, you should already be sure about which cord blood bank you will use before the 28th week of pregnancy and get everything ready by the time of the baby’s birth. The signs that stem cell therapy is the next big step in medicine should not be ignored.

Scientists are just discovering an increasing range of application for stem cells. Ask your self, how much does cord blood banking cost? The answer should not be your child or a loved one’s life.

Cord Blood Storage

Cord Blood Storage



For years, and years, people have been throwing away their newborn’s umbilical cord, but today, the blood from the cord can be stored to save lives. Stem cell storage, or more commonly known as cord blood storage, is reshaping science and medicine as we know it.

Funding for studies on stem cells has been dramatically growing as more and more benefits of stem cell therapy are being discovered. The origins of the human body’s organs and tissues are the humble stem cell, and that is why more and more cord blood banks are arising.

Stem cells from the baby’s umbilical cord have to potential to transform or specialize into other cell types, such as liver cells, red blood cells and more. These specialized cells can then be transplanted to sick people. Cord blood storage is simply the process of storing the blood from the newborn’s umbilical cord through cryopreservation using liquid nitrogen. Through this, the stem cells within the cord blood will be preserved for many years and ready for access when you need it.

Cord Blood Storage Benefits

Current studies about stem cell therapy has revealed that stem cells have the potential to treat cancer, ischemic heart disease, burns, bone fractures, spinal cord lesions, bone fractures, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and the list just goes on. Presently stem cells have been widely used in the treatment of leukemia, sickle cell disease and other life threatening conditions.

Some organizations argue that there is only a very slim chance that a baby will benefit from this technology; however there is a huge potential for stem cell therapy and advances in medicine are all pointing to harnessing this potential.

Expectant parents who take interest in the potential benefits of cord blood storage will be pleased to know that they are still being discovered. If your family has a known risk factor for diseases that can be cured, or even just the possibility of being cured, by stem cell therapy, storing cord blood is an option you should look in to.

Cord blood storage is a non-invasive and painless procedure and already has multiple proven advantages. Moreover, numerous clinical trials for common diseases are already underway and proven therapeutic applications are increasing. If you have the resources to venture into this life-changing opportunity, by all means, do so. You can choose to have your baby’s cord blood stored in a private cord blood bank or donate it to a public cord blood bank and help patients in dire need of treatment for a life threatening disease.

Cost of Cord Blood Banking

Cost Of Cord Blood Banking


Cord blood banking is a revolutionary way to save stem cells from your baby’s umbilical cord. It could be a life changing opportunity for you and your family. Although the cost of cord blood banking can be a little steep, it is quite worth it.

Stems cells are the building blocks of the human body and can be used to treat a wide variety of life-threatening diseases such as leukemia, sickle cell disease, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and many more. Your baby isn’t the only one that can benefit from stem cells, even your other kids or family members can benefit.

There are two types of cord blood banking, private and public. Cord blood stem cells stored in public cord banks can be accessed by anyone in need while that of a private cord bank can only be accessed by the donor or his/her relatives.

The Cost of Cord Blood Banking Has Two Components

The cost of cord blood banking can be divided into two segments. You only have to pay once for the first segment which involves sample collection, removal of red blood cells, screening for any infections, the addition of cryopreservatives and initial storage.

The second segment, similar to a maintenance fee, is the cost of storing the stem cells in liquid nitrogen at about 96°C annually. Depending on the provider you choose, the cost ranges from $600 to $6000 for the first segment and $90 to $120 a year for the second segment.

The first segment may be expensive but you can think of it as a biological insurance for your relatives and even your descendants. Even a slight match with a relative’s stem cell has a good chance of a successful transplant. Although stem cells may not be beneficial for genetic problems within your gene pool, there a lot of disease that it can be used for.

It is up to you to choose the service provider and how much you are willing to spend for the cost of cord blood banking. The more expensive providers claim that they provide more screening; on the other hand, low cost cord banking service providers claim to achieve lower operating profit margins. Research about which service provider you want but be sure to make up your mind before the 28th week of pregnancy. Everything will need to be ready before the baby’s birth.

The benefits that stem cell cryopreservation provides have attracted a lot of interests from scientists and have been the subject of numerous studies all over the world. More and more are being discovered about the use of stem cells and cord blood banking is a huge opportunity to make a difference in your family’s life. Don’t let this opportunity go to waste. The monetary cost of cord blood banking is much less valuable compared to your loved ones’ life.

Cord Blood Banking Pros and Cons

Cord Blood Banking Pros And Cons


Cord blood banking is a relatively new practice and therefore has not gained mass acceptance. People may confuse cord blood stem cells with embryonic stem cells and be wary for that reason, but the two are completely different. Cord blood stem cells are extracted from the umbilical cord after birth, so they do not come from the embryo. This article will discuss cord blood banking pros and cons that you should be aware of.

Cord Blood Banking Pros and Cons: The Pros

One of the pros of saving and storing cord blood stem cells privately is that if any family member ever needs a transplant, you will have access to it immediately. You will not have to wait on a list and will have access to treatment more quickly.

Another advantage is that if your baby ever needs a transplant, the stem cells will be a match. One of the main reasons that a transplant fails is due rejection of donor cells. If other members of the family need a transplant, the stem cells will also likely be a close match thus reducing the risk of rejection.

There have already been tens of thousands of successful cord blood stem cell transplants throughout the world for a variety of diseases in adults and children. Every day brings the possibility of new medical discoveries, and with cord blood banking, you may be able to take advantage of new treatments as they are developed. There is only once chance to save and store cord blood and that is immediately after the birth of a child. If you do not take advantage of the a opportunity then, the chance is gone forever.

Cord Blood Banking Pros and Cons: The Cons

As stated above, there are cord blood banking pros and cons, so now I will discuss the potential cons involved with cord blood banking. There is some question as to the safety and effectiveness of using a baby’s own cord blood stem cells for transplantation. This is especially true in cases of where a child develops cancers and leukemia.

When children develop immunological disorders, the cord blood may contain the same genetic defect that caused the disorder, making it unsuitable for transplantation. That does not mean that private cord blood banking does not serve a legitimate purpose. Most transplants that have used privately banked cord blood have gone to relatives with pre-existing conditions rather than the actual donor child.

Another issue that can arise is that cord blood samples may not be large enough. The samples collected may not have enough stem cells for a successful transplantation. Cord blood is used in the birth process, and if the cord is clamped too soon in order for more cord blood to be collected, this could be detrimental to the future development of the baby.

The umbilical cord pulsates to push blood into the child during birth, and it is recommended that the cord cease pulsation before it is clamped. If cord blood is being collected for private storage, there is a possibility that the cord may be clamped too early in order to collect more cord blood. This can deprive the infant of placental blood and increase the risk of anemia.

The final con that may be associated with private cord blood banking is a legal ownership issue. You should read the contract you sign carefully and understand it fully before you proceed. Some contracts may be written ambiguously so that the ownership of the cord blood may not include all the rights and privileges one would reasonably expect. This may leave future uses of the cord blood open without approval of the donor. These possible uses may include cloning, partial sales, or medical research. Another potential problem to look for is contracts that do not clearly lay out the rights of donors requesting termination of storage and destruction of the cord blood sample.

It is important to weigh the cord blood banking pros and cons before you decide to bank cord blood. There are a lot of issues to consider, and it is an expensive service, so you should think about these issues carefully. It is an important decision that can only be made once in a lifetime, so it should be given the weight it deserves.

Cord Blood Banking Benefits

Cord Blood Banking Benefits


Expectant mothers make all kinds of decisions that affect the health of their developing baby. From prenatal vitamins to playing music to their bellies, new mothers go the distance to ensure that they have a healthy baby. Cord blood banking is just another way new parents are taking the extra step to make sure their new baby stays healthy.

Cord Blood Banking Benefits: Security and Peace of Mind

There are many cord blood banking benefits that convince parents to store cord blood, even considering the costs involved. Although in the majority of cases, a baby will never need the cord blood, parents want the security of knowing that it will be available in the slight chance that their baby is faced with a life threatening disease.

Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after birth. This blood can now be extracted and stored cryogenically so that it will be readily available if needed. It can either be donated to a public cord blood bank, or it can be stored in a private facility. It is not cheap to store cord blood privately, and yearly fees must be paid. Many new parents feel that the cost is worth the benefits.

The reason that cord blood is so valuable is because it contains stem cells. Stem cells can be transplanted in a similar way to bone marrow transplants. The stem cells that are found in cord blood are called haemopoietic stem cells, and they are the stem cells that can replicate into all blood cell types. They also have the ability to self-renew. This means that a small number of haemopoietic stem cells can self-renew into a very large number of daughter haemopoietic stem cells.

This self-renewal phenomenon is used in bone marrow transplants. The stem cells in cord blood can generate into different blood cell types more efficiently than the stem cells found in bone marrow. That is what sets cord blood stem cells apart from bone marrow stem cells and is also one of the major cord blood banking benefits.

Cord Blood Banking Benefits: Saving Lives

Before cord blood banks existed, the umbilical cords and placenta of a newborn baby were discarded as medical waste. In 1988, cord blood stem cells were used in a stem cell transplantation that saved a boy’s life.

Since that first successful transplantation, cord blood stem cells have been used to treat several blood diseases, such as leukaemias, anaemias, and some autoimmune diseases. Tens of thousands of people have since been treated with cord blood transplants, and 98% of those transplantations are successful. There is a 2% chance that the stem cells can be rejected, but this only happens in rare cases.

The last thing any parent wants is to have a sick child. When a parent is faced with a child who has a life-threatening disease that is treatable, they should have those treatments available. Cord blood stem cells are precious and should be saved, whether they are donated to a public bank or stored privately. The cord blood banking benefits are often worth the high price of private storage due to the miracles they can perform when faced with a life-threatening illness.

Umbilical Cord Blood Banks

Umbilical Cord Blood Banks


What Is An Umbilical Cord Blood Bank?

Umbilical cord blood banks collect and store umbilical cord blood and tissue for future use in medical treatments. There are private and public cord blood banks. These facilities developed beginning in the middle of the 1990s in response to the emerging possibility of cord blood transplants to treat blood and immune system diseases.

Public Banks

Public umbilical cord blood banks will take donations and must follow strict regulations in adding donations to a registry. If an expectant mother decides to make a cord blood donation, she should get in touch with a public bank before the 34th week of pregnancy. After the cord blood is donated, identification information is removed after initial testing is completed. So families who make a donation will not be able to retrieve their own blood after donation.

Private Banks

Private banks will store your cord blood exclusively for your own use for an initial fee of around $1,000 to $2,000 to preserve the cord blood, and yearly storage fees thereafter. The cord blood is stored and will be available in case the donor baby needs it for medical treatments. Alternatively, a relative, usually a sibling, may need it if they are a close enough match. Until the donor child becomes an adult, the parents will retain custody of the cord blood.

Regulation Of Umbilical Cord Blood Banks

The Food and Drug Administration in the United States regulates cord blood under the category “human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products.” Other countries also regulate the use of cord blood. Additionally, both public and private umbilical cord blood banks can voluntarily seek accreditation with the American Association of Blood Banks, or the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy.