Choosing accredited cord
blood storage centers.

Cord blood storage.

It's difficult to ignore the fact that stem cell research is an ongoing concern and that the umbilical cord of your baby may contain the key to helping any future problems; using accredited cord blood storage centers is the key aspect to storing this cord blood. There are a growing number of centers across the country that will aid you in your bid to storing cord blood and you should expect to pay approximately $1500 initially followed by annual payments of around $100. It is possible with some storage facilities to pay up front for the annual storage, which can potentially save you as much as $500 on the total cost. A government poll taken on stem cells and the private storage of them has shown that many believe this cost is too high for them to be able to afford it, but the fact is that more and more parents are finding the funds required.

Choosing a blood storage facility.

There are a number of centers you can choose from and you may be surprised to learn that they really do differ quite significantly in many ways. Not all organizations are accredited and it is important that you do your research to find the one that you are most interested in using. The first and possibly most important factor to remember is that not all the companies or facilities that you get details of will actually store the blood themselves. Some will act as a third party and send the blood to another company to store it. This is all well and good but you really do need to know the company you are going to be dealing with.

History of the company you choose.

Umbilical cord blood is already successfully used in transplants on a regular basis, so it may surprise you when you contact some companies that they have yet to have used any of their stored blood in transplants. This is an important factor. Different companies use different methods of storage and will, therefore, have differing levels of success when it comes to the actual transplanting of the blood. If you can choose a company who have successfully transfused blood already then you will know that you are choosing a company that can store and keep viable blood for future use.

Choosing accredited cord blood storage centers.

You may not believe it is important that the company you use is accredited, however it is important. Some, if not most, hospital will not even accept blood from any company that is not accredited. This means that if you do happen to choose an unaccredited company you may not actually be able to use the blood you have stored in the future unless the storage facility does become accredited.

How the blood is stored.

Some companies store all of your blood in one vial in one storage section while others use multiple vials to store your baby's umbilical cord blood. If the blood is stored in multiple units this means that should the need arise, one vial can be removed and the blood tested for viability. This is particularly important when you come to donate blood to family members other than the child it was taken from. The blood from one vial can be tested and if there is a match then all of the blood can be used, but if it isn't a match the remaining blood samples can be retained for possible future use.

The American Association of Blood Banks.

The AABB are the organization that is responsible for accrediting blood banks of every sort across America. Becoming accredited is voluntary whether for cord blood or any other source of blood. Most hospitals will not even entertain the idea of conducting a blood transfusion using blood from a non-accredited blood bank. Any organization that is accredited will usually give details on the homepage of their website so you should not struggle to find out if a company you are interested in using is accredited or not.

Banking cord blood is a decision that many parents are now taking because of the advance in stem cell transfusions and the number of life threatening diseases that can be treated using these transfusions. There are, at present, over 40 diseases that can be treated by introducing stem cells to the body in a controlled way, and as research continues this list is certain to grow. Already, there are indications that heart failure and diabetes will one day be curable through stem cell transfusions. Using accredited cord blood storage centers not only means you can be confident that the company you use is well respected but also that hospitals will allow a transfusion using the blood within this storage facility.

How to compare cord blood banks