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.