Cord blood is the blood taken from the umbilical cord and the placenta at the time of a child’s birth when the cord is snipped. Cord blood is necessary because along with the general blood constituents, i.e., red and white blood cells, plasma, and platelets, the cord blood also contains stem cells and progenitor cells. These stem cells can be used later in life if they are diagnosed with cancer or genetic disease.

You can store Cord blood in public and private banks. Cord blood bank companies are available 24/7 for your help. In the case of public banks, the parents give up claims over the blood. It is considered a donation for any person to use as required. Storing cord blood in public banks is free, and there is no guarantee that the blood will be available later for use by the family. Whereas in private banks, parents pay a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, or annual fee to store the blood. Here the blood is reserved solely for the child, to be used later if the need arises.

With a newborn arriving, parents already have a lot to worry about. It is better to be thorough with your research before finalizing the cord blood bank. There are several factors parents must pay attention to before choosing the storage facility. Five of the most critical factors are:

Stable and Established History:

Generally, public banks have a much better history than private banks. This is mainly because private banks face ups-and-downs, whereas public banks work with research institutes and hospitals. Experts suggest that if a family does not have a history of genetic or hereditary diseases or cancer, they should donate the cord blood to a public storage bank instead of a private cord blood bank.

The bank should have a history of successful collection, transport, storage, and cord blood unit release. If a bank has a successful history of transplant stem cells, that means that the cord blood storage bank isn’t just an enterprise but a facility run by experts.

Also, if a bank keeps changing their laboratory or their transport services, it’s best to avoid them as they lack stability and may cause a problem in storing your child’s blood.

Certified and Accredited:

The business should be officially registered and must be accredited by the regulatory authorities. Accreditations define the quality standards of the bank. The lab must also be certified. These certifications and accreditations are essential because they set rules and guidelines that must be followed to keep the blood safe. These certificates ensure that the blood will be stored in conditions that are ethically and medically correct.

Collection:

Since childbirth never occurs according to a time table, parents must ensure that the cord blood collection will be scheduled whenever the child is born. The services of the bank must be available 24/7.

Transfer and Release:

Blood is susceptible, and its constituents decompose at conditions other than their ideal conditions. This means that the stem cells will decompose if not transferred incorrect materials, especially while the blood is being transferred through trucks or planes. Public banks give an insulation kit to the parents, which seals and stores the blood safely. Parents should ensure that the measures taken for the safety of their baby’s cord blood are strict and intensive.

In case, later in life, the child requires the stem cells urgently, the bank should be able to quickly transport the blood without any administrative delay.

Pricing and Transparency:

Although cord blood is still a topic of discussion amongst doctors, it has shown results in fixing blood diseases like sickle cell anemia or cancer like leukemia. Storing cord blood can be expensive, and a child may never need to use it. Even though keeping cord blood should not be pricey, the fact is that cord blood storage can be expensive. Parents should check the affordability of cord blood storage at various banks and ensure that they can pay for it. Banks discard the blood if parents fail to pay the fee.

Also, read the contract’s terms and conditions carefully; if you notice any discrepancy, it’s better to avoid applying in that bank. Make sure there are no hidden fees or conditions that could cause problems in the future.

The collection and storage of umbilical cord blood is a once in a lifetime opportunity for each person. Storing it may prove to be useful in the future for your child.