Cord Blood Banking Pros and Cons
Private Cord Blood Banking vs. Public Donation
When it comes to banking cord blood, parents are faced with a choice, should we go with a private cord blood bank or donate to a public bank? This is not a choice to be taken lightly. It is important to make an informed decision that will suit your family's needs. Below you will find a list of pros and cons for each type of cord blood bank.
Public Cord Blood Banking - Pros:
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Accept free donations.
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Strive to provide suitable cord blood to help people in need, free of charge.
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Provide stored cord blood for medical research (sometimes at a profit).
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Make cord blood stem cells accessible to the public.
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Your doctor charges a collection fee which is usually not covered by insurance. However, if the parents are donating their cord blood the doctor may waive this fee (this is not a guarantee, it depends on the doctor).
Public Cord Blood Banking - Cons:
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Like any transplant, finding a suitable match can sometimes be a challenge.
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There is no guarantee that the cord blood you donated or a suitable match will be available if a family member should need it.
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Even if a match is found, there is a higher chance of rejection when receiving cord blood from non-relatives.
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The bank owns your child's stored cord blood.
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You have no say in who receives your baby's cord blood.
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Although donation is free, it costs about $15,000 to use cord blood from a public bank. You should verify that your insurance policy covers this cost of stem cell transplantation.
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It is more challenging for minorities to find donated cord blood that is a match for potential stem cell treatments through a public bank.
Private Cord Blood Banking - Pros:
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Allow you to bank your baby's cord blood exclusively for your family's use.
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If your child will need a stem cell transplant in the future, there will be no need to search for a suitable donor.
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If a family member will need a stem cell transplant in the future, there is a higher chance that your baby's cord blood will be a suitable match.
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The success rates of cord blood transplants using cord blood from a family member are twice that of transplants using a public donor's cord blood.
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You own your child's stored cord blood.
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You decide who uses your baby's umbilical cord blood.
Private Cord Blood Banking - Cons:
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For genetic diseases, a transfusion using a person's own cord blood may not be sufficient.
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There is a fee for collection and storage.
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Doesn't serve the "greater good".
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Most insurance companies do not cover cord blood collection and banking. However if there is a history of family disease, than it may be covered. Verify with your insurance policy to see what is covered.
This is a family decision that should not be rushed. Take the time to discuss and weigh out all the options with your relatives and friends. Both public and private banks offer you a service that helps to secure the health of your child.
Learn about the different diseases that are treated by cord blood.
Compare leading cord blood banks.
