Why should we go for cord blood banking?

Cord blood stem cells are used to treat many life-threatening diseases like cancers, blood disorders and immune system related diseases like leukemia, various anemias, lymphoma or thalassemia etc. Stem cells of umbilical cord blood are seen as the most effective alternative to bone marrow transplant therapy. So, umbilical cord blood banking is just saving something that would have been otherwise discarded during childbirth and potentially saving a life later on. Cord blood should be collected within 15 minutes after the birth and should be processed within 48 hours after collection. Collection of umbilical blood is an absolutely painless procedure because cord blood is taken after the birth of baby and that too from the cut off cord that would have been thrown away otherwise. In umbilical cord blood banks the cord blood is stored in cryogenically sealed containers for years. Umbilical cord blood banking company also maintains a database of the available cord blood units to make the search easy.

What are the options available for cord blood banking?

Seeing the utility of banking cord blood stem cells, many people are coming forward for cord blood banking in India also. There are different ways and purposes to store it—Storing in private cord blood bank, saving it for family member, donating it for research purpose, public stem cell banking and donation etc. Donated cord blood becomes available to any patient going for a transplant. It is not reserved to be used only for your family members. Sometimes, cord blood is banked with a clear intention of using it for a family member already suffering from a disease that may need bone marrow or transplant. Some people donate cord blood of their child for research specific to umbilical cord blood banking and stem cell therapy.

Which is best option for me: public or private banking?

Other alternative is to store cord blood in a private cord blood bank where the collected cord blood is kept reserved only for the family’s use. Private cord blood banking is a paid service, so the parents have to pay for collection as well as for preservation. The selection between public or private umbilical cord blood banking entirely depends upon personal choice. Some parents say that private cord blood banking is not required because umbilical cord blood donations are on increase and there is no problem in finding a suitable match whenever needed. Others say, private cord blood banking is a must, especially if the family health history has cases of serious ailments, the treatment for whose are available or likely to be available using stem cell therapy.

What is the cost of banking?

Private cord blood banking costs have reduced drastically over time in India. Cryobanks India offers the best-in-class cord blood banking collection and storage for 21 years against a one-time payment of Rs. 75,000. Many pocket-friendly payment options are available too. Medical professionals are recommending cord blood banking to more and more would-be parents due to the enhanced affordability and medical relevance.