Cord blood banks

Cord blood banks collect and store stem cells after the birth of the children from the umbilical cord blood. The purpose of this collection and storage is for transplantation for those people who have different life-threatening diseases, such as heart or liver diseases, genetic disorders, blood disorders, etc. There are several national cord blood banks that achieve international recognition for research and transplantation of the cord blood stem cells.

Cord blood banks collect, process, test and store the donated umbilical cord blood for the public use, taking into account the great number of people who are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases each year. Therefore, cord blood banks look after expectant mothers, informing them about the importance of their umbilical cord blood and the possibility of helping some people who suffer from terrible diseases. Nevertheless, the information and sensitizing of the population is not fully achieved as in the case of simple blood donation. The transplantation of cord blood stem cells to the people in need is possible due to the development of scientific and technological areas, fact that permit to save the lives of the patients or to improve their sufferings. These transplants are considered to replace blood marrow transplants. Thanks to the cord blood banks the possibility of finding the match for the patients in need increases, as in 2001 Institute of Medicine of the National Academies stated that roughly 20,000 American lives were saved through transplants of stem cells.

There are several network cord blood banks that facilitate the access of potential donors to the cord blood banks with facilities for public use. There are also private cord blood banks that collect, process and store the umbilical cord blood for private use, taking into account the family health history. In this case, the parents should pay taxes for the collection, processing and storage, taking into account the likeliness of using this unique source of stem cells. In the case of private cord blood banks some facts have to be taken into account, such as: the recognition, quality certificates and accreditations as well as company stability, procedures for collection and facilities, consumer rights and, of course, the prices. You may be interested in the used collection methods, the equipment of their laboratories, details about shipping and handling, tests performed on the cord blood samples, the medical and legal requirements of the company. The stability and recognition of a private cord blood bank may be easily detected while asking about the relationship of the company with hospital or research institutions, their technological development, the years of their activity, the number of their cord blood samples, the number of transplants. The reputation of a private cord blood bank is given by the affiliation with respected institutions, fact that gives confidence and reliability, giving the impression of a professional company.

The basic difference between public cord blood banks and the private ones is that the latter banks your baby's cord blood for your family's personal use. Baby cord blood banks are extremely useful when the family health history reveal the likeliness of developing different blood or genetic disorders as well as heart or liver diseases. Baby cord blood banks rely on the fact that the storage of your baby umbilical cord blood is a special and unique opportunity for ensuring your baby's future. This advantage may excuse the high costs of collecting, processing and storing the umbilical cord blood. These facts contributed to the skepticism of some pediatrics for the services of baby cord blood banks. One of the aspects that they highlight is that parents are highly vulnerable from the emotional point of view and accept the “best investment” for their baby's future although the likeliness of using the cord blood sample is not relevant. On the other hand, this investment is not only for the newborn, but also for all members of the family and the likelihood that the umbilical cord blood may be used in various diseases is considerable.

Cord blood stem cell banks gain popularity and more donors after sensitizing and informative campaigns. Even a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Program was established with a proper legislation and issues considering the maximization of possible usages and improved technologies of stem cells. Special enhancing programs of the structure, function and utility of cord blood stem cell banks are put into practice, trying to find the ideal structure of a national program. Therefore, a centralized coordination is needed for controlling the donated cord blood stem cells in all cord blood stem cell banks.