There are processes in place for creating a cord blood bank registry. But they aren’t complicated, and they don’t have to be stressful. Here’s what you’ll need to do, plus things to consider that can help you find a bank that meets your needs.
How do I create a cord blood bank registry?
There are several steps that you’ll need to take before your baby’s cord blood can be banked. Here’s how to get started.
1. Begin the process early.
It’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about banking your baby’s cord blood during your second trimester. It can take several weeks to get all the necessary pieces in place, and you’ll need to get a cord blood collection kit from your bank by your 34th week of pregnancy.
2. Decide if you want to use a public or private bank.
There are two ways to store cord blood: You can donate the blood to a public storage bank or you can pay for private storage. Both private and public storage have pros and cons, and the best option for you and your family depends on different factors. Your health care provider can help you weigh the options and make the right choice.
3. Contact your cord blood bank.
If you choose to use a public bank, check to see if your hospital or birthing center already works with one. Find a full list of participating U.S. hospitals at bethematch.org. If your hospital doesn’t work with a bank or you want to use a private bank, you’ll need to choose one yourself. (Scroll down for questions you may want to ask your bank, as well as a list of different bank options.)
Once you’ve picked your cord blood bank, you’ll need to contact them to begin the registry and collection process.
More About Preparing for Baby
4. Confirm that you’re eligible to donate.
If you’re planning to donate your baby’s cord blood to a public bank, you’ll need to answer a few simple questions to confirm your eligibility. The questions are similar to the kinds you’d answer if you were donating blood. You can usually donate if you’re healthy and are having just one baby (not two or more).
This list of basic eligibility guidelines should help too. If you’re still unsure about whether you’re eligible, don’t worry. The medical staff at your chosen bank will confirm all the details by reviewing your family history. Your blood will also be tested right before you deliver.
Private banks may have eligibility guidelines too. Your bank will let you know what they are, and share any necessary steps you’ll need to complete to confirm that your baby’s cord blood can be banked.
5. Obtain a collection kit.
Cord blood is harvested using a special collection kit that includes all the supplies needed to collect the blood when your baby is born and protect the sample while it’s transported to the bank.
Some hospitals have these kits on hand, but most of the time, parents need to get one from their cord blood bank. Your kit will need to be obtained around 6 weeks before your due date, so it’s a good idea to request it from your bank as early as possible.
The bank will mail the collection kit to you, and you’ll need to bring it to your hospital or birthing center when you deliver your baby.
6. Sign the consent form or contract before your baby is born.
If you’re donating to a public bank, you’ll need to sign a form giving consent to donate your baby’s cord blood. If you’re donating to a private bank, you’ll need to sign a contract and pay the bank’s fees. No matter which type of bank you choose, the paperwork will need to be completed before you go into labor.
Each bank has its own procedures for getting the documents finished, so you’ll need to follow your bank’s individual directions.
7. Collect your baby’s cord blood and send the kit back to the bank.
Your doctor or another hospital staff member will collect your baby’s cord blood as soon as she’s born. The blood will be sent to your bank, where it will be tested to confirm that it’s free from contamination. Then it will be frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored.
What questions should I ask a cord blood bank I’m considering?
That depends on whether you’re choosing a public or private bank.
If you’re opting for a public bank, consider asking:
Does the bank work with the hospital where you’re planning to deliver?
Will I have to pay any fees? (Donating is free. But your health care provider may charge a fee to collect the cord blood.)
Am I responsible for having my baby’s cord blood delivered to the storage facility?
What will happen to my baby’s cord blood once it’s donated?
If you’re opting for a private bank, consider asking:
How does the bank collect and store blood?
How viable are the bank’s cord blood samples compared with other banks?
How stable is the bank, and what will happen to my sample if the bank closes?
Can I switch to another facility in the future?
What are the fees for collecting, processing, and storing the cord blood? Will the storage fees stay the same or go up over time?
How can I make sure that my baby’s cord blood can be used by any member of my family?
The best cord blood banks
You can choose to donate your baby’s cord blood to a public bank or have it stored in a private bank just for your family. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular options.
Public banks
There’s no cost to donate to a public bank. However, your health care provider may charge a cord blood collection fee. You may also be responsible for paying a medical courier to deliver your baby’s cord blood to the bank.
For a full list of public banks, visit savethecordfoundation.org.
Private banks
There are around 20 private banks in the U.S.; one resource for finding them is savethecordfoundation.org.
These are some of the most popular banks, all of which are registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and accredited by the AABB — the gold standard in cord blood banking.
Storage location: Montvale, New Jersey
Samples stored: 35,000
Cost and length of term: A 20-year prepaid storage plan is $3,500 (or $175 a year). Financing plans are available starting at $165 a month for 24 months.
Storage location: Tucson, Arizona
Samples stored: Over 900,000
Cost: One-time payment of $1,685 plus $185 per sample a year for annual storage. Financing plans start at $49 a month for 48 months.
Length of term: 18-year prepaid storage plans are $4,195, and lifetime prepaid storage plans are $6,195.
Storage location: Tampa Bay, Florida
Samples stored: Over 500,000
Cost: $1,500 one-time payment, plus $175 a year for annual storage. Financing plans start at $134 a month for 12 months or $79 a month for 24 months (plus a $199 down payment).
Length of term: 18-year prepaid storage plans are $3,150 plus an additional $1,500 processing service and medical courier fee.
Storage location: Baldwin Park, California
Samples stored: 60,000
Cost: $995 one-time payment, plus a fixed annual storage fee of $175 per year. Financing plans start at $99.58 a month for 12 months.
Length of term: 18-year prepaid storage plans are $3,460 and lifetime storage plans are $5,440.
Storage location: Hebron, Kentucky (outside Cincinnati, Ohio)
Samples stored: Over 500,000
Cost: $1,900 one-time payment, plus $175 a year for annual storage. Financing plans start at $168 a month for 12 months.
Length of term: 20-year prepaid storage plans are $2,765, and 25-year prepaid storage plans ate $3,225.
Cord Blood Bank Reviews
Want to hear from parents who have already chosen to bank their children's cord blood and settled on specific banks? Here are a few reviews for each of the top cord blood banks from their own client testimonials and family stories.
“When I began researching cord blood banks, I wanted to find the one with the highest standards – even if that meant I had to pay more," says Heather R. "What a great surprise to find out that I could get the best service and the highest quality at half the price with Americord!”
“I had a million questions about cord blood banking," says Sameer B. "The staff at Americord answered them all and even explained complicated things about stem cells in plain language. They also walked me through the different options and payment plans and helped me find the one that was right for me.”
"They make it super easy, super straightforward for you, even for the dad. Banking (our kids') cord blood with CBR has been so simple and it's been so consistent, and the confidence that we have in CBR we'd like to pass on to other people."
"CBR stood out from the rest of the pack. My OB suggested that I bank there. She gave me a lot of information on it and told me about the collection process, and it made my decision a lot easier. CBR was the first one mentioned by both doctors, the pediatrician and the OB/GYN."
"We were so excited to bank our daughter Delila's umbilical cord blood with Cryo-Cell — nothing but the best for my little girl!" says Bryan Dattilo. "My wife did all the research, and Cryo-Cell's reputation really impressed us. Working with Cryo-Cell was so easy. They were so nice and on top of things, the experience was great, and we would absolutely recommend them to anyone."
"Knowing that our baby's stem cells might be used for our whole family made the decision that much easier. We hope we never have to use them, but it is a definite relief to know it's there and stored safely at Cryo-Cell. We did our research and compared our options, but when it came down to it, we could trust our baby's stem cells only with Cryo-Cell. Cryo-Cell is the first in the world to do this, their reputation is second-to-none, and their processing method is superior to the others."
“We decide to bank with StemCyte because StemCyte holds the most accreditations," says Rebecca Coates of Florida. "And not only do they have a private bank but they also have a public bank."
"I banked my daughter's cord blood with StemCyte after my OB gave me some basic information," says Jill Montgomery of Oceanside, California. "It was not a hard decision, but rather a natural choice after a number of life experiences that dramatically shaped my outlook on the possibilities of banking my daughter's cord blood."
"I'm glad we chose ViaCord!" says Kahla, mom of Lillian, who was born with cerebral palsy after suffering prenatal trauma when then-pregnant Kahla was in a serious car accident. "We used 80 percent of her cord blood because it is stored in separate bags with ViaCord, and we still have 20 percent left. Some banking companies store it all in one bag, so the doctor would have had to use it all in one transfusion."
"The power of stem cells is what cured my son," says Andres Treviños, whose family banked his daughter Sofia's cord blood with ViaCord to attempt to save the life of her brother, Andy, who was born with a rare genetic mutation that crippled his immune system. The stem cell transplant from sister to brother worked and cured Andy.
If you have decided to bank your baby's cord blood, this guide to creating a cord blood bank registry plus advice from your doctor and hospital will help you choose the best banking option for your family. So you can breathe a little easier knowing that one of the biggest decisions you have to make while you're pregnant has been taken care of!
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