AlphaCord

AlphaCord is a cord blood banking company that has processed and stored over 30,000 samples in nearly two decades in business. The company provides cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue collection, processing and storage services. AlphaCord uses a NextGen collection bag that allows hospital staff to see in real time the amount of blood being collected, which the company says allows collection of up to 250 milliliters.

AlphaCord offers an $85,000 quality guarantee toward finding an alternative source of matching stem cells if your cord blood stem cells are stored with the company and fail to engraft. The company says it has a 100% success rate of providing viable cells for infusion and engraftment. AlphaCord is registered with the FDA and has worked with over 28,000 families. You can schedule a free consultation and receive a personalized discount.

You can choose to store cord blood only; cord tissue and cord blood; or cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue with AlphaCord. You can also opt either to pay for storage annually or for 20 years of storage upfront. The company recommends deciding at least 30 days before your expected due date so you can coordinate with your health care provider (though it may be able to accommodate last-minute orders).

To order a kit, go online or call. AlphaCord ships you a collection kit with instructions to take with you to the hospital. Shortly after birth, your health care provider will collect the blood and tissue and put them in the kit, which you send to AlphaCord’s lab overnight.

At the AlphaCord lab the sample is tested for viability. You’ll be notified by email within 72 hours that the samples have been processed, and you’ll receive a storage certificate with a unique ID number and processing results in about six to eight weeks.

In the event your family needs to access the cells for medical treatment, you can call AlphaCord, and it will send you and the treating physician the release forms. AlphaCord doesn’t charge to send your baby’s stem cells to an accredited medical treatment facility in the continental U.S.

AlphaCord offers three options for customers: cord blood storage; cord blood and cord tissue storage; and cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue storage.

Each package includes a collection kit that’s shipped to you and back to the lab and all processing and testing. When signing up, you can choose to pay for storage (starting the second year) yearly or purchase 20 years of storage upfront. AlphaCord also includes its $85,000 guarantee and access to support 24/7.

With AlphaCord, you pay a fee for collection, processing and one year of storage, then an annual storage fee. You can choose to pay upfront and save or pay monthly. Alternatively, you can prepay for 20 years of storage. You also have the choice of upgrading to a five-chamber storage bag (from two chambers) for $59. Be sure to check with AlphaCord for the latest pricing, monthly payment amounts and promotions.

Cord blood only

The regular price is $995, which includes the first year of storage. Annual storage costs $150 per year. If you choose to pay for 20 years of storage upfront, the cost is $2,495 total.

Cord blood and cord tissue

The regular price with one year of storage is $1,495. After the first year, annual storage costs $250 per year. The 20-year package costs $3,695.

Cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue

The regular price with a year of storage is $1,995, with a $350 annual storage fee after the first year. The 20-year option costs $5,995.

The decision to store your baby’s cord blood is highly personal. If you do want to partner with a private storage company, consider AlphaCord. It is experienced and offers options for collecting not just cord blood, but also cord tissue and placental tissue. The company reports a 100% success rate for transfers and has an $85,000 quality guarantee. We recommend starting with a free consultation so you can learn more about current pricing and get answers to any questions.