Private Cord Blood Banking vs. Public Donation

Cord Blood Banks Pros and Cons

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 Banks - Pros:

• Accept free donations.
• Strive to provide suitable cord blood to help people in need, free of charge.
• Provide stored cord blood for medical research (sometimes at a profit).
• Make cord blood stem cells accessible to the public.
• 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 Banks - Cons:

• Like any transplant, finding a suitable match can sometimes be a challenge.
• There is no guarantee that the cord blood you donated or a suitable match will be available if a family member should need it.
• Even if a match is found, there is a higher chance of rejection when receiving cord blood from non-relatives.
• The bank owns your child's stored cord blood.
• You have no say in who receives your baby's cord blood.
• 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.
• 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 banks - Pros:

• Allow you to bank your baby's cord blood exclusively for your family's use.
• If your child will need a stem cell transplant in the future, there will be no need to search for a suitable donor.
• 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.
• 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.
• You own your child's stored cord blood.
• You decide who uses your baby's umbilical cord blood.

Private Cord Blood Banks - Cons:

• For genetic diseases, a transfusion using a person's own cord blood may not be sufficient.
• There is a fee for collection and storage.
• Doesn't serve the "greater good".
• 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.

How much does it cost to bank cord blood with M.A.Z.E.?