Considerations in Choosing a Cord Blood Bank

We realize that choosing a cord blood bank is a very important decision and there is a lot of information to consider, some of which may be confusing. Below is some information that may help you when making your decision.

Since the first successful cord blood transplant in 1988, cord blood has been used to save thousands of lives. Cord blood transplants have been successful in the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and more than 70 life-threatening diseases. A list of the diseases currently treated with cord blood can be found under Diseases Currently Treated with Cord Blood. In addition, there are many clinical trials and pre-clinical laboratory research studies for other diseases being conducted with cord blood. For example, human clinical trials are underway for Type I Diabetes and Cerebral Palsy. A list of current cord blood clinical trials can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov (a service of the National Institutes of Health).

It is important to note that the presence of clinical trials and pre-clinical laboratory research does not guarantee that cord blood will be successful in the treatment of the diseases being tested in the future. Unfortunately, some cord blood banks have been known to exaggerate or misrepresent the benefits of cord blood. Beware of scare tactics. Any company who tries to imply that storing cord blood "could be the only chance that you have to save your baby's life" is trying to prey upon your emotions to get a sale. A less obvious scare tactic implies that certain locations of the country, other than theirs, are prone to problems (such as natural disasters) and therefore unsafe to store cord blood. Every area of the U.S. has pros and cons, and reputable cord blood banks have secure facilities, backup systems, and procedures to keep cord blood safe regardless of the location.

In addition, keep in mind that just because a company states that they have an exclusive or special item does not mean that item is needed or offers any additional benefit to you.

Examples of other cord blood bank claims using the terms "only" and "special":

Claim Example #1 - "We have a special, exclusive, patented, dry anticoagulant"
As far as we are aware, all cord blood banks use an anticoagulant that is appropriate to ensure that the cord blood does not clot during shipment and processing. The liquid citrate-based anticoagulant is the industry standard because unlike the dry heparin-based anticoagulant, the liquid anticoagulant also contains cord blood buffers and nutrients. In the cord blood industry guidance document released in October of 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration states, "We recommend that you use only citrate-based anticoagulants."*
Claim Example #2 - "We have a special, exclusive molded bag for processing and storage"
As far as we are aware, all cord blood banks have bags appropriate for processing and long-term storage of cord blood. Cord blood has successfully been stored with the non-molded bags without issues while the molded bags have had 2 recalls in the past few years.
Claim Example #3 - "We are the only company to offer 2 types of collection methods"
The industry standard worldwide for the collection of cord blood is the gravity method. The latest edition of the International Standards for Cord Blood Collection, Processing, Testing, Banking, Selection and Release by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy does not recognize any other method for cord blood collection.
Claim Example #4 - "We are the only cord blood company that is also a recognized leader in cord blood research"
The team members of several family blood banks have made significant scientific advancements and continue to conduct groundbreaking cord blood research. Some of the companies are also divisions of biotech research-based companies.

Suggestions for narrowing your choice of cord blood banks:

Select a cord blood bank that also has a public cord blood bank. Public cord blood banks that collect donated cord blood are regulated by more stringent guidelines than family cord blood banks. Cord blood banks which have a public cord blood bank are likely to utilize that experience when developing quality practices for their family cord blood bank. In addition, cord blood banks that also have a public cord blood bank are likely to have greater experience in releasing cord blood units for transplants. For more information, click here.

Select a cord blood bank that invests in the stringent processes and advanced technology utilized by the world's leading public cord blood banks. Many of the cord blood banks in the U.S. still use manual methods for processing and cryo-storage because they are less expensive. For more information, click here.

Select a cord blood bank that employs and partners with leading cord blood experts to develop and direct their processes. Conduct a web search of the names of the people listed on the company's website (especially the Medical Director) and look for those that are leaders and world renowned experts in the field of cord blood banking, research and transplantation. For more information, click here.

*http://www.celltherapysociety.org/files/PDF/Committees/NA_LRA/FDA_Guidance_for_UCB_licensure_20Oct2009.pdf