Private Cord Blood Bank Supports Legislation for Public Access to Medical Treatments

Cord Blood Registry (CBR) Endorses National Cord Blood Stem Cell Legislation

SAN BRUNO, Calif., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- In an interesting spin on the Private/Public debate on cord blood banking, Cord Blood Registry (CBR) announced a strong endorsement for the growth and investment in the public cord blood banking system.

Routinely discarded at birth, umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells which are currently used to fight more than 70 cancers, blood diseases and immune disorders.

Prior to the legislation, families wanting to donate cord blood to a public bank did not have access to a facility that accepted donations. An initial $10 million appropriation to establish a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Network was recently approved by the Senate.

"We have been highly supportive of the legislation and the ability to increase our national supply of life-saving cord blood samples" says Stephen Grant, Cord Blood Registry co-founder and vice president of communications. "Our clients understand the value of cord blood banking, and many helped build awareness in Congress regarding the need for a National Cord Blood Bank."

CBR clients pay a $1500 fee to preserve cord blood exclusively for their family's future use as a type of "biological insurance" -- a service that has been criticized as counter to public good. "The private banks and the public system are synergistic," according to Grant. "Private banking offers better survival for the family and reduces the burden on the public system. The only factor that previously limited public banks was funding, and now that has been addressed."

The groundbreaking legislation will provide the resources necessary to collect an inventory of 150,000 cord blood stem cell units over five (5) years, to provide life saving stem cells for patients in need.

About Cord Blood Registry (CBR)

Cord Blood Registry (CBR), headquartered in San Bruno, California, owns and operates its cryogenic laboratory and processing facility in Tucson, AZ. CBR is affiliated with the University of Arizona and is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks. CBR's scientific director, David Harris, Ph.D., is a professor in the university's department of microbiology and immunology, and pioneered the storage of cord blood stem cells. CBR is one of largest and most experienced family cord blood banks in the world. For more information visit http://www.cordblood.com or call 1-888-CORD BLOOD. Cord Blood Registry is a registered trademark of Cbr Systems, Inc.

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