CORD BLOOD BANKING
The following information lists the various blood banking companies as well as useful links.
Compare companies side by side
Cord blood banking is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for parents to collect and preserve the stem cells from their baby’s umbilical cord blood for potential medical uses.
By saving your baby’s stem cells, your child and family can have access to better medical treatment options or cures for cancers, as well as potential treatments for conditions such as brain injury and juvenile diabetes. If you choose not to bank your baby’s cord blood, it is discarded after birth.
Today, cord blood stem cells have been used successfully in the treatment of over 70 life-threatening diseases.
When you bank your baby’s cord blood, you are making a choice that could potentially provide a lifesaving treatment for your child or a family member.
Your baby’s cord blood is a valuable source of non-controversial stem cells; the building blocks of our blood and immune systems. Cord blood stem cells, like bone marrow stem cells, are free of political and ethical debate. The value and benefits of stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are clear; cord blood collection saves lives today and medical researchers are exploring new uses for umbilical cord blood stem cells for tomorrow, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Storing your newborn’s cord blood means that should there be a need, your baby will have a source of stem cells that is an exact match, with no risk of rejection. There is also a strong possibility that his/her siblings will be a match as well. This is important because clinical studies demonstrate that stem cell transplants are twice as successful when the stem cells come from a family member rather than from a non-relative (e.g., a public bank).
Cord blood preservation is a simple, painless procedure that can take place after a vaginal or cesarean birth. After you enroll you will receive a kit with everything you and your doctors need for a successful cord blood collection. You’ll keep your kit with your prepacked hospital luggage so it will be ready when the big day arrives.
After your baby is born, your obstetrician or midwife will clamp or cut the cord and then collect the cord blood. The blood will flow into the bag by gravity until it stops. The actual collection typically takes three to five minutes.
After the cord blood has been collected, the blood bag is then clamped, sealed, and clearly labeled for easy identification. Your baby’s cord blood will then be transferred to a processing facility by private medical courier for processing and storage. Collection, processing, and preservation methods vary depending on which cord blood company your family chooses.
Families who bank enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that their baby’s cord blood is available should the need for a medical transplant ever arise.
The process is simple, and once you decide which company to use, all you need to do is bring the kit to the hospital with you. The doctor will collect it for you free of charge and the hospital personnel will make the necessary arrangements for the pick up and mailing of the cord blood.
