FAQs

Banking Cord Blood

Banking Cord Blood – FAQs About Saving Your Baby’s Cord Blood Stem Cells

What are my options for saving my baby's cord blood?

There are two types of cord blood banks: family banks (which stores for one's own family for a fee) and public donor banks (which stores for donation to an anonymous patient). Every parent has the option to save cord blood for use by their baby and family, but only a limited number of parents can donate their baby's cord blood stem cells since only certain hospitals collect for donation.

Cord Blood Registry® is the world's largest and most experienced cord blood bank, and the #1 choice of Ob/Gyns and expectant families. When it comes to helping you protect your family, no one can match CBR's experience and expertise.

Source for Ob/Gyn claim: Blind survey, GfK Market Measures, 4/07.

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Why do families choose to collect and store their baby's cord blood?

Peace of Mind

Families save their baby's cord blood stem cells with CBR for peace of mind - viewing it as a type of "biological insurance" - since these stem cells may be lifesaving to their family. Most of CBR's clients have no family history of disease, but recognize the current and future potential of their newborn's cord blood stem cells as a biological resource if ever needed.

Families know that there is only one opportunity - at birth - to collect these genetically unique stem cells and if not taken, the cord blood is simply discarded.

Lifetime of Protection

Families recognize that their baby's cord blood may offer a lifetime of protection:
  • The baby's cord blood may be used to treat nearly 80 diseases. Stem cells have been used for decades in lifesaving treatments for diseases including leukemia, other cancers, and blood disorders.

  • Cord blood stem cells are showing significant potential to treat conditions that have no cure today - like juvenile diabetes and brain injury.

  • The baby's cord blood is immediately available for the family if needed, and faster treatment is always better.

  • For use in regenerative medicine therapies using cord blood, the child's own stem cells are required.

  • For treating cancers and blood disorders in transplant medicine, having the family's own cord blood available may offer significant advantages if ever needed, including fewer complications, improved survival, and a better quality of life without the need for continual anti-rejection medications.

Some families have more defined risk factors, but most families bank for the security of knowing the health benefits that stem cells may someday offer their children, themselves, or other family members.

Additional considerations and unique birthing circumstances include:

Family History
Cord blood banking is a prudent choice if the birth parents have any family history of cancer or other diseases that are treatable with stem cells. It is important to remember, however, that many common diseases treated with cord blood, like leukemia, are not generally hereditary and occur without warning.

Ethnic or Mixed Ethnicity
Ethnic minorities and families of mixed ethnicity have greater difficulty finding stem cell donors when needed. Many genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia are more common in certain ethnic populations. Both of these diseases have been successfully treated with stem cells from cord blood.

Newborn Adoption
Families preparing to adopt a newborn choose cord blood banking because, if ever needed, the cord blood may be a valuable genetic source of stem cells for the adopted baby. In addition, depending upon the terms of the adoption, complete family medical histories are not always available.

In Vitro Pregnancies
Couples using fertility treatments bank cord blood because they face the possibility of not having another opportunity to secure a genetically related sample of cord blood stem cells for their child.

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How much does it cost to save my baby's cord blood stem cells?

The cost of family banking is approximately $2,000 for the initial collection and processing, with an annual storage fee of about $125. It can be covered through payment plans, a Gift Registry that friends and family members can contribute to, or as a gift from the grandparents to be.

The cost of family banking with CBR reflects a significant lab processing effort involving highly trained technicians in a state-of-the-art facility which meets FDA/ AABB and other regulatory requirements. Each cord blood sample undergoes a rigorous 3 hour processing stage prior to storage. CBR's processing system is automated and was selected because it is the best technology available for saving these priceless cells for your family. The result is industry-leading excellence and the highest published cell recovery rate - 99%. CBR takes every step possible to ensure a successful collection and the long-term safety and viability of your baby's stem cells.

Regardless of whether you bank for your family or donate to a public bank, the cost of processing and banking the sample by a cord blood bank is approximately $2,000. Public banks historically cover their cost through government or private funding, and by charging the patient in need an estimated $25,000-$35,000 for the cord blood unit.

The cost of family banking to the client is similar to medical procedures such as a MRI, CT scan or other medical screening procedures. These screenings can identify health issues, and banking your baby's cord blood can potentially save your child's life.

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Should I save cord blood for all of my children?

It is important to save cord blood for each child in the family:

  • By saving cord blood for each child, each child will have access to treatments that require one's own stem cells - in both transplant and regenerative medicine therapies. For other diseases that require a donor's cells, siblings are the preferred donors.

  • Saving cord blood for all children in a family provides related sources of stem cells for potential use and increases the likelihood of match between family members. Siblings have a 75% chance of using each other's cord blood, compared to only a 25% with bone marrow.

  • In the case of identical twins, it is still important to save cord blood for each child as it is extremely difficult to determine if twins are indeed identical. Additionally, it is important to collect the maximum amount of cord blood in case it is ever needed. Collecting for only one baby risks not having genetically identical cord blood for both babies. Each child's cord blood is banked separately.

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If someone in my family needs a transplant, couldn't we find a donated sample from a public bank?

Possibly, however, the most important consideration is having a successful transplant.

Stem cells from a relative (preferably a sibling) are generally the best treatment option in transplant situations for treating certain cancers and blood disorders. Having your own family's cord blood available for use in transplant may have significant advantages including fewer complications, improved survival, and a better quality of life without the need for continual anti-rejection medications. So while public banks may be able to help provide an adequate sample for transplant, it may not be the best or most preferable sample.

Additionally, there is no guarantee that a matched sample will be available in a public bank. Many patients are unable to find a donor, especially those who belong to minority ethnic groups that are not adequately represented in public banks. As many as 50% of patients awaiting a bone marrow transplant do not find a donor, partly due to the complexity of finding a matching donor and due to the timely localization of a potential bone marrow donor. For instance, donors often move without leaving a new address, or they may no longer be willing or fit to be a donor.

Public banks typically charge a fee (estimated $25,000 to $35,000) when releasing cord blood to the patient in need.

Reference:
McGuckin CP, Forraz N. Umbilical cord blood stem cells--an ethical source for regenerative medicine. Med Law. Mar 2008;27(1):147-165.

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How do I donate my baby's cord blood to a public donor bank?

With public donation, your baby's cord blood may be donated to an anonymous patient in need, and is not saved specifically for your family. Only certain hospitals collect cord blood donations, so start by checking with your hospital. There are strict quality standards for the donor and cord blood donation in order for the cord blood to be stored. Unfortunately, many families are ineligible for donation for a variety of reasons including family health history, maternal exposure to viruses, and international travel.

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Shouldn't I choose a cord blood bank that is close to my home?

It is not important for a cord blood bank to be close to your home. The safety and viability of your baby's stem cells are far more important than the proximity of the storage location. Should they be needed, your stem cells can quickly be shipped to any medical center in the world.

The most important thing for your family is to make sure that your baby's cord blood collection yields the greatest number of stem cells possible and that the cells are viable and available if they are ever needed for transplant:

  • Cord Blood Registry's unique CellAdvantage® system for collecting, processing, and storing cord blood saves, on average, 20% more cells compared to other common methods. Additionally, CBR has facilitated significantly more transplants than any other family bank. All CBR cord blood units used in transplant have proven viable - the ultimate validation of our collection, processing, and storage methods.

It is also important for the bank's laboratory and storage facility to be in a location that is not subject to major environmental disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes.

  • CBR's lab and storage facility is in Tucson, Arizona, a location historically free from airport delays or natural disasters, which could affect the safety or accessibility of your baby's cord blood.

Finally, since most families will require long-term storage, another important consideration is to choose a cord blood bank that is financially stable and will be around in the future to ensure your baby's stem cells will be available if needed:

  • CBR has a proven track record of financial stability. CBR has achieved positive cash flow since 1999 and has no outstanding debt, so you can rest assured that we will be here for you in the future.

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I'm planning to adopt. How does that change the process?

Cord Blood Registry sends an enrollment packet to you as well as the birth mother. Both parties must authorize the agreement before a kit can be sent. Many times the privacy of both parties is a requirement. Cord Blood Registry has participated in hundreds of adoption cases for our clients and we are very experienced with confidentiality and other unique issues surrounding the adoption process as it relates to cord blood collection and storage.

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What if there is someone in my family who is sick now and needs my child's cord blood?

Our Designated Treatment Program® (DTP) provides cord blood collection, processing, and storage at no cost to families with a medical need. Families may apply for the DTP for a first degree blood relative to the newborn who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease treatable by stem cells. For more information on the DTP. please click here.

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New uses for cord blood stem cells are being discovered rapidly; however, banking cord blood does not guarantee that the cells will provide a cure or be applicable for every situation. Ultimate use will be determined by the treating physician. Use in regenerative medicine is still considered experimental.