 Cord Blood Banking Coupons and Cord Blood Q&A
Many of today’s parents-to-be consider storing their children’s umbilical cord blood for possible later use treating disease. In order to help parents make informed decisions, Bobby’s Best has provided the following FAQ on cord blood banking.
What is Umbical Cord Blood?
Cord blood (short for umbilical cord blood) is the blood that is left in your newborn’s umbilical cord after it has been cut. Cord blood is full of stem cells, which can be used to treat certain diseases and may be able to treat many more in the future as new therapies are developed. These stem cells are genetically unique to each individual, which is why preserving your baby’s own cord blood is so important. Cord blood can only be collected immediately following your baby's birth.
Why Use Cord Blood Banking?
Storing your newborn's cord blood and stem cells is called cord blood banking. While public cord blood banks exist and many people do participate in cord blood donation to these public banks, the chances of a stem cell therapy working on your child is higher if the stem cells are his or her own. Cord blood storage allows you to have your baby's cord blood saved in case it should one day be needed for the treatment of a potentially life-threatening disease.
How Does Cord Blood Collection Work?
Cord blood banking involves a few steps, and companies do their best to make the logistics easy for new parents. First, the blood has to be collected. Immediately after birth and before the umbilical cord is discarded, the blood is put into vials, picked up by a courier from the cord blood bank and delivered for processing and storage.
What Diseases Can Be Treated Using Cord Blood and Stem Cells?
Diseases and genetic disorders currently treated with cord blood stem cells include:
- Anemia
- Aplasia
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Hemophagocytosis
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease
- Congenital Neutropenia
- Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
- X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disorder
- Krabbe Disease
- Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
- Wolman Disease
- Leukemia (some types)
- Lymphoma (some types, both Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s)
- Multiple Myeloma
- Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
- Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia
- Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria (Gunther Disease)
- DiGeorge Syndrome
- Osteopetrosis
A great deal of research is also being directed toward other applications. Some serious disorders not listed above have been treated with cord blood stem cells with positive results, including cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. However, the medical community is still verifying whether the patients’ improvement can be directly attributed to stem cell treatment. Other common and serious disorders such as diabetes are also being researched as possible candidates for stem cell therapy.
What Does Cord Blood Cost?
Prices vary from company to company, but initial storage costs range from $1000 to $1750 on average, with annual storage fees of $100-$150. Many first offer you a prepay option as well.
How do I know if a Cord Blood Bank is Reputable?
There are several things to look for when trying to choose a cord blood bank.
- PharmaStem Licensed: PharmaStem (www.pharmastem.com) holds five U.S. patents covering the collection, storage and therapeutic use of umbilical cord blood. The company has begun a licensing program for cord blood banks, all of which theoretically fall under the umbrella of these patents. Some companies have chosen not to apply for a license and have instead challenged the company’s patents in court. It is possible that an unfavorable legal decision could cause a major financial hardship for an unlicensed bank, as PharmaStem has indicated that it will not issue licenses to banks that have challenged its patents. If the cord blood bank you choose is not licensed, make sure you understand its contingency plans.
- FDA Registration: The Food and Drug Administration registers and regulates blood banks in the United States. Make sure your cord blood bank is registered.
- cGTP and cGMP: The FDA mandates that businesses working with blood cells and tissue adhere to the cGTP standard, which means Current Good Tissue Practices. There is, however, an even higher standard, the cGMP or Current Good Manufacturing Practices. Cord blood banks are not required to adhere to cGMP, but some do. Be sure you understand what standards your blood bank meets.
- AABB Certification: The American Association of Blood Banks inspects and certifies cord blood banks. Be sure that your cord blood bank is AABB certified.
Top Cord Blood Banking Companies
ViaCord: One of the best-known cord blood companies, ViaCord works with numerous hospitals as well as biotech firms, including GenZyme and Amgen. It offers upfront or installment payment plans and often offers discounts of $100 or more.
Cord Blood Registry (CBR) : The world’s largest cord blood bank, CBR currently banks the cord blood of more than 220,000 people at its facility in Tucson, Ariz. The company offers a number of payment plans.
New England Cord Blood Bank: A company that has been banking cord blood for more than 10 years, NECBB is an affiliate of a worldwide network of cord blood banks based in the United Kingdom. The company offers a 20-year storage prepayment plan, as well as commissions for clients who refer others.
LifeBank USA: A subsidiary of Celgene Corporation, LifeBank USA is the only cord blood bank that also offers placental stem cell banking. It offers several payment plans as well as repeat client and referral discounts.
Cryo-Cell: A very progressive cord blood bank, Cryo-Cell guarantees the integrity of all the blood banked with the company and pays $10,000 toward any cord blood/stem cell therapies that your child requires. The company also offers a rebate of 2 percent of all your storage payments toward your child’s college tuition.
Other companes to consider. Cord Blood America |
