Cord blood is the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth, clamping, and cutting. This blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are the building blocks of the blood and immune system. Since these stem cells can only be collected at the time of birth, expectant parents must decide whether to donate this resource to a public registry or pay to store it privately for their family’s exclusive use.
Medical Applications of Cord Blood Stem Cells
Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells that mature into all types of blood cells, including red cells, white cells, and platelets. These cells are used in stem cell transplants to replace a patient’s diseased or damaged blood-forming system. Cord blood has been utilized as an alternative to bone marrow transplants, often carrying a lower risk of immune rejection due to the cells’ relative immaturity.
Applications include treating over 80 life-threatening conditions, particularly blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Cord blood stem cells also treat non-malignant disorders, including inherited genetic diseases like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, by resetting the patient’s faulty blood production system with healthy cells.
Public Cord Blood Donation: Process and Use
Public cord blood donation involves giving the blood freely to a national or international registry, such as Be The Match, for use by any patient needing a matched transplant. This process is free for parents, as the public bank covers all collection, processing, and storage costs. Donated cord blood is made available globally to patients who require a suitable stem cell match from an unrelated donor.
To donate, parents must confirm their hospital is a participating collection site, as not all facilities offer this service. Eligibility requires a medical screening of the mother, involving a detailed health history questionnaire, to ensure the blood is safe for transplantation. After delivery, a trained professional collects the blood from the cord and placenta, a procedure safe and painless for both mother and baby. Once processed and cryopreserved, the unit is ready for transplant use or may be used for medical research if it does not meet strict quality standards.
Private Cord Blood Banking: Costs and Limitations
Private cord blood banking requires paying fees to store the blood exclusively for the child or a direct family member. Initial processing and registration fees typically range from $1,350 to $2,300, plus annual storage fees that cost between $100 and $175.
The primary limitation is the low probability that the child will ever use their own banked blood (autologous use), estimated at less than 1 in 2,700. For most genetic blood diseases, such as leukemia or inherited anemias, the child’s own cord blood cannot be used because the cells contain the genetic mutation that caused the disease. A transplant must come from a healthy, matched donor, such as a sibling or an unrelated donor from a public bank. Private banking is recommended only when an existing family member, like an older sibling, has a diagnosed condition treatable with an allogeneic stem cell transplant.
Weighing the Options: Making an Informed Decision
The decision involves balancing the benefits of public donation against the costs of private banking. Public donation maximizes the life-saving impact of the cord blood by making it available to anyone in need worldwide, strengthening the global registry. Major medical organizations encourage this option because it addresses the significant need for diverse donor cells.
Private banking is a practical consideration if there is a known medical history in the immediate family, particularly a sibling with a condition treatable by stem cells. In this scenario, a sibling match is often more successful and immediate access is guaranteed. For families without such a history, parents must weigh the cost and limited likelihood of autologous use against the free and collective good offered by public donation.