With the medical advances of the past ten years, cord blood banking has become an option for parents who wish to insure, at all costs, that if anything should happen to their child, the potential to treat certain types of diseases is an option.
However, cord blood banking is costly and debatably unnecessary, but can also be life saving if needed. Research into the benefits of cord blood banking is ongoing – statistically, most children will never need a bone marrow transplant or need to regenerate blood cells; but children can also fall victim to cancer and other diseases. Parents who invest in cord blood banking say they want to do what is best for their child, at any cost.
Throughout pregnancy, the umbilical cord connects the baby to the mother and the placenta. When the mother gives birth, she also delivers the temporary tissue. In the past, the temporary tissue was discarded. Now, medical professionals know that the umbilical cord is rich in many sources of stem cells. Stem cell transplants, also known as bone marrow transplants, are often an essential part of treatment for leukemia, lymphoma, certain types of anemia and immune deficiency syndrome. Healthy stem cells from a donor are used to regenerate the cells of the patient. Umbilical cord blood banking at birth represents a new source of stem cells.
The American Academy of Pediatrics officially recommends cord blood banking only when past family members have had a disease that requires a stem cell transplant. However, cord blood banking companies present it as a form of health insurance, and parents who invest in cord blood banking reason that any chance of needing the stem cells, no matter how small, makes up for the expense.
Commercial cord blood banks charge $1,000 to $1,500 to collect and store the cells, as well as a $100 annual maintenance fee for the cord blood banking. Cord blood banking expenses are not covered by traditional insurance. Cord blood banking companies also may charge a fee for the cord blood collection kit, courier service to the cord blood bank, and initial processing.
There is no guarantee that cord blood banking will provide a stem cell match for the patient or the patient’s siblings, if necessary. Much depends on the patient, the illness, and the nature of the illness.
It is necessary to evaluate cord blood banking facilities before choosing one. The American Association of Blood Banks evaluates and accredits many of the nation’s public and private cord blood banking facilities. While expense may make the decision for many parents, a higher cost does not necessarily guarantee higher quality. Also, the quicker the cord blood banking is done, the better; although experts estimate the facility has 48 hours to complete the procedure.
Stem cells that have been stored in a cord blood banking facility for up to 13 years have been successful for completing stem cells transplants. Another option is public cord blood banking, where the stem cells are registered for use by people throughout the U.S. and the world who are searching for a potential life saving match.
By Virginia Zignego