A baby’s umbilical cord contains stem cells that are known for their extraordinary regenerative properties. Stem cells can replicate and develop into any type of body cells, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, cartilage cells, and bone cells. That enables them to repair, regenerate and replace any bodily tissue that is damaged or diseased, and this makes them advantageous for use in various cell regeneration therapies.

Advanced storage technologies have made it possible to store stem cells for an indefinite period. You can extract the cord blood from your baby’s detached umbilical cord by a non-invasive and painless procedure soon after birth and send it for long-term storage to a cord blood bank. For a specified fee, they can store the cord blood for as long as you want.

Five Things to Know About Cord Blood Banking

Here are five things you need to know about cord blood banking:

1. Cord blood banks collect cord blood from the umbilical cord

Some parents research cord blood banks and select a suitable bank at least four to six weeks before the birth of their baby. The cord blood bank provides them with a blood collection kit. After the baby is born, the doctor or the nurse will use this kit to extract the cord blood, and a medical courier will take it to the bank’s laboratory. It will undergo processing and analysis at the laboratory and be ready for storage with liquid nitrogen cryopreservation methods within 24 hours.

2. Cord blood banks can store different biological materials

The cord blood banks collect and store cord blood, cord tissue, and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). The MSC option may be the best as the cells undergo isolation, expansion, and culture growth. The isolated cells can also undergo a bacteria test to ensure they are not contaminated. That allows for a higher count of quality cells that can remain viable for application in different medical therapies. The cord blood bank will send you a report detailing the total count and viability of the stem cells and a unique identifying number for your stored sample for easy retrieval later.

3. Cord blood banks make use of advanced technologies

Cord blood banks use high-tech facilities with the latest technologies for processing, storing, and accessing their inventory of cord blood samples. Some of the best technologies include MCASS Processing, AXP II Processing, MVE Tank, BioArchive Smart Robotics Tank, and Segmented Tissue Storage. Since new technologies are constantly developing in this field, the cord blood bank must have the capacity to scale up when necessary. They also need reliable power backup to ensure the long-term safety and viability of the stored cord blood samples.

4. Cord blood banks offer different pricing options

There are private cord blood banks and public cord blood banks, and the private ones are generally more expensive than the public ones. It is a costly endeavor to store cord blood potentially forever. However, you can find many package options for different budgets. For instance, you could select an annual storage plan, a 20-year storage plan, or a lifetime storage plan. The pricing will be different for each of these. You can also go for an affordable cord blood banking storage $19.99/month plan.

Most banks state their storage rates clearly but ask and check that there are no other hidden expenses. It will also benefit you to compare the services and prices of different banks and narrow your choice down according to your pocket and your needs.

5. Cord blood banks adhere to industry standards

You should also review the bank’s accreditations from credible public bodies like the FDA, the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and the Department of Health. These can guarantee that the bank complies with the industry’s standard rules, guidelines, and regulations for safe and proper handling and storage. And that means that the bank is reliable, consistent, and professional.

You will do well to check its inventory and review how many cord blood units they have stored and delivered since they first began their storage operations. That can inform you of their experience, knowledge, and capability to keep the stored cord blood viable for a very long period. You can then reactivate it for medical uses.