Ultimate Guide to Private Cord Blood Banking

There is now greater awareness about cord blood banking and its many benefits. A private cord blood bank is the ultimate solution for parents who wish to store the cord blood of their children. It is one of the best things you can do to secure your child’s health in the future.

There are public cord blood banks as well. But those work on donations. Cord blood donated to public banks is mostly used for research purposes. For personal use, you will need to opt for a private cord blood bank.

Here is the ultimate guide to private cord blood banking.

How to choose one?

Experience –

It is best to choose a private cord blood bank with at least 20 years of experience in collecting and storing cord blood. Experience equates to a stable yet growing business, which means improvements in technologies and processes over the years.

The most established cord blood banks are involved in research and genuinely take an interest in helping families find perfect stem cell matches (if they don’t have it stored). Check if the company has over 100,000 clients if they have experience of two decades. It will serve as a hallmark of a reputable and established cord blood bank.

Accreditation –

Cord blood banks need to have accreditations such as FACT AND AABB. Some private cord blood banks go a step further and also acquire ISO and CAP. Only choose a company that has complied with proper regulations and accreditation requirements of their industry.

Costs and storage plans –

A good private cord blood banking company will offer different types of packages to suit all requirements and budgets.

You may be able to choose between 1-year, 18-years, and lifetime plans. Some cord blood banks also offer cord tissue storage. The combined costs for both cord blood and tissue may be more cost-effective. So, it can be helpful to inquire about it as well before you choose a bank.

You should be able to pay the fee annually or via easy financing options. The ultimate aim of reputed cord blood banks is to offer families a chance of survival and good health via stem cell treatments. So, these companies offer easy payment options to parents.

What the process entails?

Enrollment –

Once you choose a private cord blood bank, you will need to enroll with them. Ideally, you will need to register with the bank by week 27 of your pregnancy. But you can do so at a later date too. It is best to consult with your doctor or a cord blood bank representative for the same. Most doctors don’t deny the request of collecting the cord blood. But it is still best to confirm if they do it.

Informing the doctor –

Let your doctor know that you have enrolled with a private cord blood bank and he or she will do the needful after the delivery.

Collecting and handing over the kit –

Your bank may mail the collection kit to you or hand it to you in person if you visit them after the enrollment. Simply put the kit with your things that you will take with you to the hospital. Give the kit to the nurse or your doctor when you arrive at the hospital for your delivery. You may need to fill certain forms that will be with the kit.

Informing the bank –

Once the cord blood has been collected, inform the bank about it. Your partner or a family member can take over this responsibility. After your call, the bank will send a medical courier to collect the kit with the cord blood.

Receiving the report –

Once the cord blood reaches the bank, it will be processed and stored as per their standards. Reputed banks test the blood to check if everything is all right with the stem cells.

You will receive a full report once the process is complete. The report will contain information about the volume of collected blood, the number of cells, and the viability of those cells. The storage process is complete within 24 hours of the cord blood collection.

The bank will provide you with a key or number to help you identify the location of your storage unit.