Best Cord Blood Banks

How cord blood banking works

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.

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.

Cord blood processing steps

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.

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Types of cord blood banks

There are three broad categories of cord blood banks: public, private and hybrid (or dual) banks. All 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.

• Hybrid cord blood banking: Hybrid banks combine private family storage with a public inventory, giving parents reserved access to their child's sample while still supporting broader donation efforts. 

» MORE: Cord blood industry statistics

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 blood 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:

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.

• 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.

Cord blood banking costs

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.

Cord blood banking payment options

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.

What to look for in a cord blood bank

The clinic your family chooses depends on a variety of factors, but below are a few things to consider.