The Truth About Umbilical Cord Blood Banking

Umbilical Cord blood banking is a process to collect potentially lifesaving stem cells from the umbilical cord and placenta and store them for future use. They can be used for treating diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, and some immune system disorders. If you choose to bank cord blood cells, you'll need to make arrangements ahead of time, usually about two months before your delivery. Soon after your baby's birth, a nurse or doctor will collect the cord blood and a segment of the cord and make sure it goes to the facility where it will be processed, frozen, and stored.

Why Choose Cord Blood Banking?

You may consider cord blood banking for several reasons. If your family has a history of disease that can be treated with cord blood, you may consider this option in case your child or another family member develops the condition. You may also choose to bank cord blood in case your child becomes ill, even if you have no family history. You may also choose to donate cord blood to a public bank to help other families.

Limitations of Umbilical Cord Blood Banking

The primary drawback of cord banking is that it is only beneficial in rare situations. The likelihood of a child having an illness that would benefit from properly matched banked cord blood is 1 in 2500, although some experts think it is even less useful than that. Stem cells from cord blood can be used to treat a few diseases. If your child is born with a genetic disorder, the cord blood likely contains the same code that caused the problem in the first place. It cannot be used to treat your child or any other person. Cord blood cells from a healthy infant can be used to treat an ill child, as long as the two are a good match.

The amount of stem cells from a single birth is enough to treat a child or young adult. Full-grown adults typically need more stem cells than are available in cord blood, though it is possible to combine stem cells from more than one birth. Additionally, the efficacy and safety of storing cord blood long enough for a child to become an adult have not been proven.

Cord Blood Banking Options

If you choose to bank cord blood, you can choose a public or private bank. Public banks operate much like blood banks. Public banks screen donors to rule out disorders or infections that could be passed to a recipient. A public bank will likely ask for a family medical history from both you and your baby's father. You might need to provide a blood sample the day after you give birth. Your baby will not need to give a blood sample. Public banks do not charge a fee to collect or store cord blood. Private Banks keep cord blood cells in reserve in case your child or other family member needs it. They generally charge $1,000 to $2,000 for collecting cord blood at the time of delivery, and then charge a yearly storage fee of about $100.