Public vs Private Cord Blood Banking- What’s Best for You?

public vs private cord blood banking

After making up your mind about collecting and storing your child’s cord blood in a cord blood bank, your thought would be, “which type of cord blood bank to go for?” This is another crucial process, deciding between public vs private cord blood banking and which is better suited for you.

Cord blood banks are of two major types: private and public cord blood banks, and your choice will be primarily affected by the underlying reasons your child’s cord blood wants to be collected and stored.

In this post, you’ll explore all relevant points to bear in mind, and this will, in turn, act as a compass in guiding you towards the best cord blood bank suitable for the collection and storage of your child’s cord blood.

What To Expect From Private And Public Blood Banking

public vs private cord blood banking

Having a keen knowledge of which blood bank to opt for while saving your child’s cord blood is of utmost importance. They both run on the same pretext and offers nearly the same kind of services. It’s a new idea and may appear strange if you haven’t heard of it, but don’t be troubled because you’re in the exact place to get more knowledge on this wonderful innovation.

Differences Between  Public And Private Cord Blood Banks

1. Private Cord Blood Bank

Private blood banks tend to deal with helping parents save their baby’s cord blood to help treat life-threatening ailments within the family. However, the services rendered by this kind of cord blood bank are expensive as they come with personalized packages.

Also, cord blood held in a private cord blood bank belongs to the donating family and can be taken out by them in the case of a transplant for any member of the family.

2. Public Cord Blood Banks

Public cord blood banks are open to the public and operate like any other public institution regarding how they render their services. They collect and store cord blood and make them available to the general public and come at little or no fee at all.

 

How Much Does My Choice Of Cord Blood Bank Cost Me?

·         Private blood bank

Private cord blood banks are expensive compared to public ones, and this is because you have the rites to the stem cells collected and can get immediate access to them if any member of the family needs a stem cell transplant. The collection and storage fee costs around $1200-2500 and attracts annual storage fees of about $100-350.

Also, since this kind of blood bank is privately run, you have to ensure that the blood bank to be used is suitable and meets all standards required for proper cord blood collection and storage.

·         Public blood bank

In contrast to private ones, public blood banks render their services to the donors for nothing, as the bank holds responsibility for all expenses during the collection and storage process.

Nevertheless, public banks aren’t responsible for any fees associated with transporting the stored cord blood to a medical facility if a transplant is needed.

 

What Do You Stand to Gain from Cord Blood Banking

·         Private blood bank

With the excellent packages offered by private blood banks, you’re bound to gain more. Your child’s cord blood can do a lot in the long run, as long as necessary procedures were followed while collecting and storing the cord blood.

After completing the procedures, the stored cord blood can be later used in treating a host of diseases in any member of the depositing family in the nearest future—this benefit aids in reducing the stress coupled with eligibility and compatibility.

·         Public blood bank

The nature of public cord blood banks makes cord blood collection and storage quite inexpensive because the bank bears the cost for cord collection and storage.

Also, since the cord blood deposited at the bank doesn’t belong to you, the likely chances of using the same stem cells in your child’s treatment are minimal.

 

Stem Cells Purposes

·         Private blood banks

The stem cells held with a private cord blood bank can be utilized, ensuring the quick and easy treatment of devastating diseases in the family. This, in turn, ensures your family’s safety—think of it as family insurance!

 

·         Public blood banks

Stem cells stored in public cord blood banks are mainly used to treat anyone from the public. Also, sometimes the donated cord blood may not meet standard requirements but can be used in conducting research. Parents will often donate umbilical cord blood as a service to others in need of life saving stem cells.

Laws Guiding Collection and Storage of Cord Blood

Most US states have legislation in line with the institute of medicine guidelines, which helps monitor all activities on cord blood banking. These legislations encourage physicians and medical personnel involved in cord blood banking to educate all expectant parents on all types of cord blood banking.

 

For many expectant parents, the news that cord blood cells can treat a host of diseases is a piece of joyous news. This procedure helps keep their minds at rest in case of any health-related complications in the family.

From here you may like to look comparing cord blood bank services and find a cord blood bank near you. They will have information packages and cord blood donating kits that you can request.

Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It? 5 Great Reasons to Say It Is

Is cord blood banking worth it

Is Cord Blood Banking: Is It Worth It?

Sometimes, your body system is disrupted by diseases or infections, affecting how your body functions. Your body may require treatment to restore the body system to its original healthy state, and these treatments may be in the form of a stem cell transplant. Let us consider the question, “Is cord blood banking worth it“?

Over the years, Cord blood banking proves to be a very beneficial method in ensuring health and has demonstrated its worth in treating devastating diseases. 

Through this article, we shall discuss important topics relating to the importance of Cord blood banking. This will help further increase your knowledge of the benefits and relevance of this form of health investment

 

Risks associated with Cord blood banking

Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It

Even with the exciting benefits associated with Cord blood banking, there are risks to using Cord blood for treating diseases. The main risk that may be a matter of concern to you is that Cord blood transplant patients are more vulnerable to infection in the first two to three months after undergoing a Cord blood transplant.

Prevalence among adolescents is great because they require a relatively large number of cells. 

 

Benefits of Umbilical Cord Banking 

Umbilical Cord blood cells stored in Cord blood banks have proven to be a valuable asset, and this is because they can be kept for a very long time, thereby providing you with a stable source of Cord blood cells. The banked cord blood cells can later be used to treat many threatening diseases that may emerge in the future.

Cord blood banking helps you create an advanced defense against some diseases, making it a very profitable investment for you.

 

Cost Wise, Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It?

Umbilical cord storage and collection attract a certain fee during processing. The cost of processing differs among various blood banks due to cord blood banks’ different collection and storage methods. Umbilical cord blood cell deposits made into public banks are entirely free of any charges.

Still, private blood banks require that collection and storage fees are paid before they can deliver their services. Yet, it’s an investment of immense gain because Cord blood cells possess unique therapeutic abilities that can prove helpful in later years. 

 

Pros and Cons of Cord Blood Banking

Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It? Let’s Look at Why It Is

1.      Umbilical cord blood is readily available

Embracing the innovative ideas of cord blood banking is genuinely worth it mainly because cord blood cells collected from your baby’s umbilical cord can be done in advance and stored. Due to this fact, cord blood cells can be made available upon request by anyone who needs them for treatment.

Umbilical cord blood cells are readily available for use in contrast to bone marrow or peripheral blood, allowing for faster transplanting time, making it more reliable and efficient.

 

2.      Umbilical cord blood transplants have a lower risk of viral infections

Another benefit to the use of cord blood cells is the reduced risk of viral infection, which can make cord blood cells suitable for use. This feature ensures the prevention of post-transplant complications on the person receiving the transplant, thereby ensuring their safety.

The less likely chance of cord blood cells recipient to have problems or infections after use gives it an edge over bone marrow transplants and makes them very beneficial.

 

3.      Cord blood cells play major supportive roles to the immune system during the treatment of cancer

While treating cancer, cord blood cells can play beneficial roles in helping to support the immune system. Their unique rebuilding ability aids the body in restoring body cells that could have been affected during treatment, which ensures the smooth running of general immuno-processes in the body even after treatment.

 

4.      Umbilical cord blood transplants do not require a perfect match

One exciting advantage of banking cord blood cells is that the donor and recipient’s stem cells do not necessarily need to match perfectly during treatment. This, in turn, implies that more people can receive and use cord blood cells to treat infectious diseases.

 

5.      Reduced risk of health complications for mother and baby

Collection and storage of cord blood cells are quickly done and poses no health risk to either the mother or child. Cord blood cells are collected from the umbilical cord after giving birth, and it is a relatively painless process, especially in comparison to bone marrow transplants.

The entire process from collection to storage is stress-free. This feature of cord blood banking ensures the safety and healthiness of the mother and child, which are indispensable for successful cord blood collection and storage.

 

 

Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It? Let’s Look at the Cons. 

1.      Stem cells collected from Cord blood are few

A single donor’s Cord blood may not be sufficient in the case of adult and adolescents stem cells to transplant and can, in turn, lead to requiring multiple donors.

 

2.      Not all Cord blood cells are eligible

Cord blood cells follow a thorough testing process to ensure that they meet requirements for storage to ensure the safety of patients that will later use them for treatment. However, not all Cord blood cells reach eligibility status and may end up being discarded.

 

Is Cord Blood Banking Worth It? Public vs Private Banking

Cord blood cells taken from your child’s umbilical cord can be privately kept in a private blood bank or donated to a public blood bank.

1.      Private blood banks

Private cord blood banks are cord blood banks that store cord blood for use by the depositing family. The cord blood cells stored in private cord blood banks belong to the depositing family, and they can only make important decisions on how it’s being used. These cord blood banks usually charge a fee for processing and an annual storage fee, making them quite expensive in contrast to public deposits. 

2.      Public blood banks

This type of cord blood bank collects and stores cord blood cells and makes them available for use by anyone who may need them for a transplant. Choosing to deposit your child’s cord blood cells in a public blood bank is an excellent idea because the bank covers all fees during collection and storage and excuses you from expenses associated with private donations. 

 

Considering the increase of disease outbreaks and genetic disorders globally and the benefits that come with Cord blood banking, you would realize that umbilical cord storage can prove to be a wise choice in the long run. Undoubtedly, Cord blood banking isn’t just immensely beneficial but also a wise and profitable choice.

If you’re ready to investigate further, we provide information on Cord blood banking options available in your area and comparisons between the different cord blood banks.