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.