Cord Blood Banking is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for parents to save the stem cells found in the blood of their newborn’s umbilical cord. The preservation of these stem cells, which are different from embryonic stem cells, allows families the benefit of having them available for existing or future medical treatments.
Cord blood banking is completely safe for both the mother and the newborn since the cord blood is collected after the baby is born and after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut.
When deciding what is best for you and your family, it is important to know about all of your cord blood banking options.
Family Banking allows you to store your newborn’s cord blood stem cells specifically for your family, making them available immediately should your family need them. This service is provided by cord blood banks which charge a fee for collection, processing, and storage in which you retain your newborn’s stem cells. Research has shown that transplants with related cord blood stem cells have doubled the survival rates as compared with unrelated (publically donated) cord blood stem cells.
Public Donation allows your family to offer your baby’s cord blood stem cells to the public network at no cost. Your donation may then be made available to any patient requiring a cord blood stem cell transplant. Your family does not retain ownership of the cord blood once it had been donated. As a result, there is no guarantee that it will be available should it be needed by a family member. A fee is charged for stem cells to be released by a public bank to a patient.
Medical Waste means that the cord blood will be thrown out as waste. Once discarded, these cells cannot be retrieved for future use.
If you have any additional questions please contact your physician
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