In 2009 there are more than 3,500 hospitals in the United States that assist families with cord blood collection. Now more than 200 families per year are deciding to utilize this technology in order to continue the hope for healthier children. In the early 1980s cord blood stem cell research was estimated to cure up to 20 diseases, but now that number has increased to over 70 diseases that can be cured, including but not limited to childhood cancers and other immune deficiency disorders.
The collection process has gotten much simpler over the past decade. Once a family decides to store the umbilical cord, they contact either the American Red Cross, local university hospital, Bone Marrow Donor Program or a local cord blood registry. A collection kit would then be sent to either the family or the Obstetrics physician who would arrange the collection through the hospital that will be performing the birth. After the baby has been delivered and the umbilical cord collected, the collection kit would be sent via medical courier to a cord blood registry location, where it would be processed for storage. Once processed by the registry professionals, which includes testing and separating the stem cells, the cord blood would be stored at 200 degrees Celsius until it is needed.
The cost for storing cord blood in this day and age can be a problem for families with lower incomes or who are cash poor. The cost to collect, prepare and store cord blood is between $1,000 to $2,000 and a maintenance fee of $100 per year to continue the storage. There may also be additional fees depending on the particular cord blood registry that is used. Banking cord blood stem cells sounds like a great idea if you want to protect your family and have hope for a healthier tomorrow, but not without a cost.
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