Cord blood banking is a hot subject among the medical professionals and new and expecting parents. There is so much information out there. How do you decipher what’s important and how to select a cord blood bank? Dr. Rallie McAllister, M. D., MPH, co-author of The Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, thinks that every parent should have a cord blood bank. There are numerous benefits and Dr. McAllister offers some suggestions on why, where and how to start with family cord blood banking.
How the Process Works
Collecting cord blood is a simple, safe, and painless procedure that usually takes less than five minutes and happens immediately after birth. After the umbilical cord has been cut, the remaining blood in the cord is collected. The cord blood is then shipped to the laboratory, processed, and frozen in cryogenic storage tanks for long-term preservation.
Why You Should Bank
According to the Mommy MD Guide, every parent should bank. Each child has access to his or her own genetically unique cells. Your baby may use the stem cells for a number of diseases, however, not generally for inherited genetic conditions. In those cases, a matched sibling’s stem cells would be the first choice. For experimental regenerative medicine therapies that use cord blood, the child’s own stem cells are currently required. There is increased likelihood that a family member in need will have access to a related source of cord blood for treatment.
Do Your Research and Do It Early
Dr. McAllister recommends Cord Blood Registry, the nation’s largest, most acclaimed bank – www.cordblood.com. You should take a lot of things into consideration when you are doing your research and making a decision:
- Talk to family and friends and your physician or midwife to get recommendations.
- Check online for testimonials and reviews. What is the bank’s reputation?
- Don’t assume it’s best to enroll with one close to home. A bank’s headquarters and its storage facility may not even be in the same state.
Now that you’ve done some background research, there are more details to consider and Dr.McAllister offers a lot of detailed guidance:
Know the Regulations and Requirements
The legalities are a big part of the cord blood banking process. Dr. McAllister advises you check into the following questions:
- Has the bank registered with the U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and met all state regulatory requirements?
- Is the bank accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)? Accreditation, which requires audits every two years, is evidence that your sample is screened, processed, and stored following the strictest quality assurance guidelines.
Be Picky with the Process
- What delivery method is used to transport the blood? Samples can be destroyed because of improper transit. A reputable bank should use a medical courier company.
- Ask about collection and storage methods, as well as published rates on cell viability to ensure the bank is using the best available technology to save your cells so they will be ready in the event that you might need them.
- Find out if they’ve facilitated any successful transplants. A red flag should go up if a bank has a high volume of cord blood units in storage but has never used a unit for transplant. This could mean transplant surgeons have rejected their cord blood which could mean its procedures are not careful or thorough enough.
The Stability of the Bank
Making sure the cord blood bank is a viable and profitable company ensures that you are more certain of it being in business years later when you may need to access your sample. Some questions to inquire about:
- How long has the bank been in business?
- Is the bank involved in any research or clinical studies with prestigious medical research institutions? A bank on the cutting edge of research would likely play a stronger and supportive role if the cord blood was needed in treatment for your child.
- How profitable is the company? It’s important to realize cord blood banking is a business. If the bank goes out of business it could mean the cord blood units will be no longer be retrievable.
There is also an online education site that might help parents understand all of their cord blood banking options at www.cordbankingbasics.com.
Do you have any experience with cord blood banking? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook page to win your own copy of The Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth.
