Cord Blood Banks - Choose the Right One

With the discovery of the stem cells in the umbilical cord, the task of fighting against malignant diseases has been made somewhat easier. The Lifesaving potential found in cord blood has shown to reduce usual risks associated with transplant treatments. Being the most primitive cells in a body, these stem calls can regenerate different types of cells. In the past two decades, scientists have made major breakthroughs with every passing year. Today, a well-preserved unit of cord blood can save a person from more than 75 diseases! After finding a host of healing potentials in umbilical cord blood cells, scientists are still in the process and hopeful about discovery of more latent potential in cord blood cells. From professionals to parents of babies, the enthusiasm is widespread and evident – whether for donation or for cord blood preservation for future use.

Private Vs Public Cord Blood Banks

Your baby’s cord blood can be preserved in either a private cord blood bank or a public bank. The main purpose of these banks is the processing and cord blood storage. If the storage center is public, then the blood cells cannot be permanently entitled to the donor. Here the donors can be ensured units of cord blood, but not necessarily that his own. The donor is mostly likely to be a stranger. The cost of preservation in such banks is comparatively lower than the private banks offering cord blood banking facility.

Nevertheless, private blood banks do have their own share of obstacles. The cost of cord blood storage in private banks is quite high and is likely to discourage many. The biggest attraction towards private cord blood banks is the guarantee that the cord blood a patient preserves, will not be used by anyone else, unless the donor himself permits. Compared to the lower chances of cord blood cells transplants in a child, storage prices charged by these banks are relatively quite high.

How Much Worth Is It?

The capability of these enterprises, credentials of these private banks play as strong determining factors in the U.S. Banks accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks are entertained mostly by the hospitals. After cord blood collection, the samples are sent to these blood banks for processing and cyropreservation. Donors must check out the records related to the number of cases in which blood banks have used their stored samples in transplants. Recent estimation concludes that there is only 1% chance for autologous use of cord blood cells.

There are both non-profit and for-profit private banks operating in the industry for cord blood preservation. Cord blood storage for about 15 years may require you to pay around $3,000 in total. However, the donors can curtail price or can receive discounts by paying certain amount of upfront payments. Some banks enable donors to save around $500 for receiving a stipulated upfront payment.

If you and your partner are expecting a child soon, consider cord blood registry now as it can contribute in treating over 75 severe diseases. Not only will your child have a secure future, his siblings will benefit too. Diseases that can only be treated by drugs, rays such as chemotherapy or risk prone bone marrow transplants, are being treated with cord blood, with little or no side effects.