Best Cord Blood Banks
- Americord4.7(476)
- ViaCord4.8(107)
- Cord Blood Registry4.9(135)
Cord blood has a multitude of stem cells, which potentially can be used to treat serious illnesses. Some families choose to save their newborn’s cord blood (the blood from the baby left in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth), placenta blood and umbilical tissue in case their child develops a disease or cancer that requires stem cell transplants.
If you privately store your cord blood, it can be accessed by you or a family member for decades. If this is something you’re considering, read our guide to learn more about the best cord blood banking options for you.
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Compare Reviews for Top Cord Blood Banks | ||||||
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Offers cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue storage starting at $3,499. Uses innovative procedures. Includes $110,000 insurance coverage. Simple process with no storage, withdrawal or cancellation fees. | Get Pricing Call Center Open (917) 338-6773 | |||||
Stores cord blood and cord tissue. FDA-registered with AABB-accredited processing and storage facility. 24-hour on-call staff and medical courier service. Guarantees storage fees for five years. Product quality guarantee. | Get Started Call Center Open (877) 856-4807 | |||||
Umbilical cord blood or cord blood and tissue banking. Based in Tucson, Arizona. Stores potentially life-saving stem cells for threatening illnesses and conditions. Sibling use available. Upfront pricing online. FDA-registered. | Get Started Call Center Open (833) 437-1876 | |||||
Offers cord blood banking, genetic testing and adult immune cell storage. Transplant service is backed by a $50,000 guarantee. Prices start at $19.99 per month. Payment options and financing are available. | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||||
Banks cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue. Offers a premium storage option. $85,000 quality guarantee. Annual and 20-year prepaid plans available. 100% success rate for viable cells. Free consultation. | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||||
Collects, processes and stores cord blood and cord tissue stem cells. FDA-registered and AABB-accredited. Exclusive direct medical courier service with free overnight shipping. Advertises a no-compromise approach to quality. | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||||
Read Author Review | New England Cord Blood Bank was founded in 1971 and is one of the pioneers in processing and cryopreservation of human cells and tissue. The company is continuing to expand its research and development center. | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent |
How cord blood banking works
Cord blood storage is an investment in your family's future health and well-being. The journey of cord blood from collection to storage involves a meticulous process to ensure stem cell preservation. Shipping and delivery methods must maintain the integrity of the cord blood, requiring precise temperature control and adherence to transportation regulations.
» MORE: Cord blood banking statistics 2024
Shipping and delivery methods
Careful transportation is vital for cord blood banks. The cord blood needs to stay at a consistent temperature between 59 degrees and 77 degrees Fahrenheit, so proper packaging and prompt delivery are essential. Cord companies must comply with TSA regulations and offer several options for collection, shipment and delivery.
- Priority shipping: Priority shipping services can guarantee delivery at a specific time, but they can’t guarantee the blood remains at a precise temperature. The immediate climate in the transport plane or truck may be too hot or cold, ruining the shipment.
- Medical shipping: Some cord blood banks use medical shipping companies to deliver cord blood. These companies guarantee the cord blood is kept at a specific temperature and delivered to the facility by a particular time, typically within 24 hours of collection.
- Courier service: Courier services are used by some cord blood companies to pick up the cord blood in person and deliver it immediately to its destination by hand. Although this is optimal, it comes with a higher price.
Processing
The main goal when processing cord blood is to separate as many stem cells as possible while leaving any red blood cells behind. This step is crucial because red blood cells can actually hinder recovery and possibly complicate the procedure.
Cord blood companies have a few different methods for processing cord blood:
- Manual processing: For manual processing, lab technicians trained in working with cord blood remove stem cells by hand. It’s a more precise way to process blood and might be used when processing smaller samples meant for family donation.
- Automatic processing: Instead of a laboratory technician handling the cord blood, the collection bag is placed into a machine that extracts the stem cells from cord blood. It’s more expensive, but there’s less chance of errors or contamination.
- Cord tissue processing: In addition to cord blood processing, some cord blood companies also process cord tissue (the umbilical cord itself). There isn’t evidence yet if cord tissue can be useful, but research is underway in looking at how it might help certain medical conditions.
Cost
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can expect to pay between $1,350 and $2,350 in initial processing fees for collecting, testing and registering cord blood. Storage fees average $100 to $175 per year.
The range of costs associated with cord banks is primarily based on the services they provide. Consider the potential fees associated with cord banking — and don't forget to ask the financing department to break down your bill if you have any further questions.
- One-time enrollment fees: Some cord blood companies charge one-time enrollment fees for cord blood storage for a specified period.
- Annual storage fee: This is a yearly fee to keep cord blood in a bank.
Payment
Cord blood storage may not be affordable for everyone, so companies offer a range of payment options and plans. When speaking to a representative, make sure to discuss the possibility of paying for cord blood storage over a set amount of time.
While health insurance companies typically don’t cover the costs of cord blood banking, some cover the cost of collection and storage when it’s deemed medically necessary, like for families with a history of blood disorders or if one child in the family has an illness and might be able to benefit from cord blood use). Talk to your health insurance provider to find out if it will pay for part or all of the cost of cord blood banking.
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Cord blood banking requirements
When you’re considering cord blood banking options, understanding the regulatory landscape and accreditation standards is crucial to ensuring safety and reliability. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in particular plays a pivotal role in enforcing regulations to uphold the integrity of cord blood banks in the U.S.
FDA regulations for cord blood companies
To ensure safety, all cord blood banks in the U.S. must register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Public cord blood banks also need to be licensed under a biologics license application (BLA) — cord blood that can potentially be used for someone unrelated to the donor falls under the definition of a “drug” under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Private banks still need to follow FDA requirements, including complying with current regulations (e.g., good tissue practice).
All donors are vigorously screened and tested for infectious diseases, including:
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis B and C
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Human T-cell lymphotropic virus
- West Nile virus
- Zika
- Syphilis
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Cord banking accreditations
Public cord blood banks are accredited and regulated by other institutions. Certification and mandates can depend on the state or even the country, but some examples of accreditations include:
- Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB): Cord blood companies that meet this accreditation are required to meet certain standards of safety, service and accuracy.
- FACT/JACIE: Cord blood companies that are FACT-accredited have been evaluated by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy and meet the standards of the foundation’s operations. JACIE is the European version of FACT accreditation — together, the two institutions collaborate to regulate international standards for medical and laboratory practices for cell therapy.
- CLIA requirements: Known as the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, this accreditation requires cord blood companies to maintain federal standards for labs that perform human specimen testing in the U.S.
Private cord blood banks may not always choose to participate in these accreditations, so they may not meet the same quality standards as their public counterparts.
Types of cord blood banks
There are two types of cord blood banks: public and private. Both types offer the storage of cord blood; some store umbilical cord tissue as well.
Public cord blood banking
Public cord blood banks are usually federally or privately funded, which means they cover the costs associated with collecting and storing cord blood. Public banks make cord blood donations available to anyone who’s a match and may need it.
Storing cord blood with a public cord blood bank doesn’t guarantee the donor will be able to access their cord blood in the future; their sample may be given to another person in need. Companies can also use cord blood donations for research.
Private cord blood companies
Some cord blood companies are privately owned, and they collect, process and preserve cord blood for individual families.
Privately storing cord blood comes with fees, usually involving an initial collection fee and annual storage fees thereafter.
What to look for in a cord blood bank
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a cord blood bank. The clinic your family chooses depends on a variety of factors, but below are a few things to consider.
Type of bank
The first thing to consider when choosing a cord blood bank is whether to send the cord blood to a public versus a private bank. Families banking cord blood for the donor’s relatives can choose either, but going with a private cord blood bank can ensure the cord blood is reserved for them.
This is especially important if your family member has a health condition and the cord blood could be useful in dealing with it. With a public cord blood bank, it isn’t guaranteed they’ll be able to use the cord blood in the future.
Cost
You also need to consider cost when deciding on a cord blood bank. Pricing at private banks varies widely when it comes to the initial collecting and processing charges and yearly storage fees. Storing cord blood for years can add up in costs quickly, but public cord blood banks are free of cost to donors.
Reputation
Private cord blood banks aren’t held to the same regulations as public banks that are federally regulated. If families decide to use a private cord blood bank, make sure to find out how cord blood is received at the facility and how cord blood will be stored. It’s also helpful to find out about any accreditations and read third-party reviews from other customers.
Storage and handling methods
Look for facilities that offer well-insulated kits to transport cord blood so that samples don’t degrade in quality. Find out how many cord blood samples the facility stores and how long it’s used its laboratory for testing and storing. Companies that have large quantities of cord blood and have been using the same lab for years tend to be more financially stable and have more experience in the business.
FAQ
Is it worth banking cord blood?
Cord blood can be an investment in your family’s future health and can be used to save lives. It may act as a viable treatment for a close blood relative with an illness like leukemia, sickle cell anemia or Hodgkin lymphoma. However, research shows cord blood often goes unused, and storage fees can add up. The American Academy of Pediatrics favors public cord blood banking because the need for cord blood transplants is rare.
Scientists are continually studying how to use cord blood to treat more diseases, including cerebral palsy and autism. Cord blood has been shown to be effective even after 27 years in storage.
Who should bank cord blood?
Families with a history of diseases can store cord blood in a bank. These families can access it should a person get sick with an immune system or blood disease, like leukemia or sickle-cell anemia, later in life.
Expecting parents can arrange to donate cord blood, which could potentially save the child's life or the life of another. Doctors recommend arranging for cord blood donation to happen immediately after birth. Those who have someone already ailing in their family may be able to use the new baby's cord blood.
How long does cord blood banking last?
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, some experts say you can store cord blood for 21 years or more.
Can you donate cord blood for free?
Yes, you can donate cord blood to a public cord blood bank at no cost. Public cord blood banks pay for everything, which includes collecting, processing and storing cord blood units.
Check first to see if the hospital where you’re delivering collects cord blood for a public cord blood bank.
What diseases does cord blood banking help?
Cord blood has blood-forming stem cells that can be used in the treatment of blood-related illnesses, including leukemias and lymphomas. It can potentially be helpful in the treatment of family members (if you privately bank) or a total stranger (if you donate to a public cord blood bank).
Medical experts use cord blood to treat nearly 80 diseases, including the following:
- Chronic myeloid leukemia
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Neuroblastoma
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
- DiGeorge syndrome
- Chronic granulomatous disease
- Sickle cell anemia
Guide sources
- Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation, “What are the relative advantages of automated cord blood processing versus manual processing?” Accessed Sept. 25, 2023.
- American Pregnancy Association, “Cord Blood Banking.” Accessed Sept. 25, 2023.
- Food & Drug Administration, “Cord Blood Banking - Information for Consumers.” Accessed Sept. 25, 2023.
- National Library of Medicine, “Donor Evaluation for Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Collection.” Accessed Sept. 25, 2023.
- University of Rochester Medical Center, “Cord Blood Banking.” Accessed Sept. 25, 2023.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, “Updated policy reaffirms value of public over private cord blood banks .” Accessed Oct. 4, 2023.
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Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use.
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