If you are a soon-to-be parent, you must have come across the term, called “cord blood banking”. Cord blood banking refers to the cryogenic preservation of life-saving stem cells.

After a child is born, the blood is collected from the placenta and umbilical cord. This blood is processed, and the stem cells are collected for future preservation.

When it comes to cord blood, you have two options. You can store the stem cells of your child with a private cord blood bank or with a public cord blood bank.

However, if you do not make arrangements to store the stem cells of your child with a public or a private bank, the blood is discarded as medical waste. Since cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, such cells should not be discarded. It is advisable to store these cells for future medical use with either a public or a private cord blood bank

However, the above-mentioned option differs in their uses, costs, and ownership of stem cells. Let us discuss the two main options for cord blood banking in detail.

1) Public cord blood bank

Donations to public cord blood banks are stored with the bank until a suitable match is found. Hence, these cells can save the life of an unrelated donor suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, or other blood or metabolic disorders.

The cord blood bank costs for donation to a public bank are Nil. However, sometimes you need to pay the collection fee. Also, you need to ensure that these services are available at your chosen hospital.

The donation to public banks is not stored for the exclusive use of your family. Hence, they may not help you even if your child or other family members need a stem cell transplant in the future. The unused samples from a public bank are used for research and help in the advancement of medical technology.

If you plan to store the cord blood of your child with a public bank, you need to consult your doctor and nurse before the delivery.

2) Private cord blood bank

Donations with private cord blood banks are stored for exclusive use by your child and your family. Once you decide to store the stem cells of your child with a private cord blood bank, all you need to do is notify the bank, who in turn will make all the arrangements for testing, processing, collecting, and preserving the stem cells.

The private cord blood banks also make arrangements to maintain the viability of these cells during storage and transportation. They are also responsible for making the cells available at the time and place of transplant.

However, the cord blood bank costs with a private bank can be a huge expense. These banks charge a collection fee, also called a registration fee, and annual maintenance cost.

However, there are affordable cord blood banks that allow you to store the stem cells of your child with a manageable monthly payment of $19.99 per month.

Storing the cord blood of your child can become especially important if you have a family history of rare diseases. These cells can be helpful not only for your child but also for siblings and other family members.

Hence, if you have another child who is sick and can benefit from a stem cell transplant from bone marrow or umbilical cord, you need to store the stem cells of your newborn. These cells are stored for directed donations.

Hence, the use of cord blood justifies the cord blood bank costs incurred for their storage and preservation. However, it is essential that you chose a reliable cord blood bank for your child’s stem cells. The stem cells should have a proven track record to ensure that your child’s stem cells will be safe with these cord blood banks.