Things to Know While Choosing a Private Cord Blood Bank

As expectant parents, you might have already received suggestions on why you should preserve your baby’s umbilical cord after birth. From the benefits of the stem cells in cord blood to the diseases they could treat, to the potential of stem cells to cure various other diseases in the future, you might have heard it all. Many parents consider the option seriously since the idea of having stem cells available for future use gives them the extra assurance that they are doing everything possible for their baby’s health. But while you’ve taken that into careful consideration, have you properly evaluated your options as to which cord blood banks to bank your baby’s cord blood with?

Choosing a credible and reliable Private Cord Blood Bank  is critical in order to ensure easy retrieval of your baby’s stem cells if you ever need it in the future. What’s more, choosing a bank that follows the highest standards is also necessary to guarantee that your baby’s banked cells are in usable condition whenever the need arises. We’ve put together a quick guide to help you out with this.

Accreditations, Transit and Safety Standards

To start off, check whether the bank is accredited by the regulatory authorities. Just like a hospital requires certain licenses to operate, a stem cell bank too, as a medical service provider, needs licenses and accreditations to prove its legitimacy. Accreditations and licenses help prove that the stem cell bank is legally allowed to operate, and also upholds certain standards, making it a safer choice.

After collection following your delivery, the cord blood has to be transported to the stem cell bank’s lab for testing, processing, and storage. While these are important steps, ensuring the safety of the blood sample during transit is crucial. Some things that have to be kept in mind include the following: Is the sample sealed and stored such as to avoid any leakages or contact with atmospheric air? Is the sample transported so as to maintain optimal temperature control? Ask the Private Cord Blood Bank you are considering about the methods used for sealing and shipping the sample - do they have their own transport services? Do they rely on contractors? How do they maintain the sample’s quality between collection and arrival at the lab?

Testing & Processing Standards

Regulatory authorities have set several guidelines about the tests a cord blood sample has to undergo upon collection or retrieval. These include tests for total cell count, stem cell viability, HLA matching, and infectious diseases like Hepatitis, HIV, and more. Agencies that oversee cord blood transplants have set a limit of 48 hours on the time between birth and processing the cord blood for cryogenic storage. So make sure that your bank processes cord blood within 48 hours after collection. You might also want to make sure that your cord blood bank’s processing methods ensure the maximum possible extraction of stem cells and minimal RBC poisoning - this makes the stem cells most viable for use in transplants.