Cord Blood Banking

The term ‘Cord Blood Banking’ refers to the collection, processing and preservation of blood obtained from the Umbilical Cord and placenta of a baby after birth. The procedure for Cord Blood Banking is completely painless for mother and infant and poses no physical risks. Umbilical Cord Blood is valuable medically because it contains ‘stem cells’. Stem cells are cells that are not yet highly specialized. Stem cells can be transformed into more differentiated cells such as red blood cells which transport oxygen through the body, white blood cells, which combat infection, or platelets which are instrumental in blood clotting. Stem cells obtained from Umbilical Cord Blood can be used to treat literally dozens of life-threatening diseases including certain types of cancer, blood diseases, genetic diseases, metabolic diseases, and immunodeficiencies. Deciding whether Cord Blood Banking is right for you can be a simple or more complex decision depending on your circumstances. For example, if you already have another child with a condition potentially treated with Cord Blood, most unbiased medical professionals would advise you to consider Cord Blood Banking. Likewise if you have a personal or family history of a genetic disease potentially treated with Cord Blood it may be advisable to strongly consider Cord Blood Banking. In the absence of the above circumstances, the decision to Cord Blood Bank is more of a personal. The cost may be weighed against the likelihood of potentially needing the Cord Blood at some point in the future. Private Cord Blood Banks market their services to parents as an ‘insurance policy’ against potential future illness. The initial cost for collection and processing of Cord Blood ranges from approximately $900 to $1800. There are many private cord blood banks to choose from. Some are licensed while others are unlicensed. Make sure you research the companies you are interested in and choose one that is reputable.