Cord Blood - Stem Cell Collection

Television commercials on storing your child’s umbilical cord blood and stem cells upon delivery are creepy. Who wants to contemplate their child becoming ill, and needing this treatment, during this monumental milestone in a families life - the delivery of their baby. But, my curiosity finally won me over, and off to investigate I went.

The most prominent of cord blood banks is CBR - Cord Blood Registry. I started with their site and compared their services to that of ViaCord and Cyro-Cell. The collection process and storage procedure is the same in all three companies. Pricing too is pretty much equal. This might be a case where customer service would really be the deciding factor.

Cord blood - or placental blood - is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after a healthy delivery. This blood is rich in stem cells. Most medical doctors agree that this stem cells are the body’s master cells, used to create all other tissues, organs and systems in the body. These cells have yet to have any outside influence on them, no viruses attacking, no mutation due to aging. Because of this, doctors believe (and have a good amount of research to prove) that these cells are significantly more useful for use in transplants and cellular related disease.

There is a one in 20,000 chance of finding a “match” in regular stem cell banking for Caucasians. This drops to an average of about one in one hundred thousand for minorities.

Stem cells are used in transplant medicine to regenerate a patients blood or immune systems. Usually following a combined treatment of chemotherapy and radiation, the stem cells are then infused in to the body’s blood stream. From there, they migrate to bone marrow and begin to multiply, new healthy cells to replace those destroyed through chemo and radiation.

Cord blood has three main characteristics that make it a better chose than a bone marrow transplant.

1st - cord blood is easier to match. The person uses cord blood is stored is a perfect match, and 2nd and 3rd degree blood relatives are almost always a perfect match.

2nd - Cord blood is immediately available. The stem cells can be taken directly from storage and used as needed. Normal transplant procedure requires the donator to undergo surgery and then testing.

3rd - There is a lower risk of GVHD - Graft vs. Host disease. Meaning, there is less chance that the body will reject the cells.

Every year, more and more uses for stem cells are being discovered. From sickle cell anemia to chronic leukemia to brain tumors and ovarian cancer (click here for a full listing), these cells are proving to be the best, least invasive treatment for many diseases.

By this point in my research I am hooked on the idea. A little scared of what type of fees would be associated with the collection and storage of the cells, but very interested in the idea. So, I dug further.

And, surprise, surprise, not too bad!

All three big cord blood banks charge about the same. For the processing and bank fees they charge an average of $1700. Throw in a $150 courier fee and the first year storage fee and we get a grand total of $1975 for the first year. A big chunk of change, but considering what you get in return, I think the investment is well worth it. There is an annual storage fee of $125.

This safeguard of “biological resources” for a family with a high risk of cancer or other now “treatable” diseases is a must. The child’s own stem cells could be used to treat their childhood leukemia or their fathers Altimetry.

As an added bonus - the entire process is made absolutely painless.
1st - enroll by telephone or on-line
2nd - take the provided kit to hospital when labor begins
3rd - have the OB/Alzheimer’s Disease collect the blood and placenta
4th - call the 1800 number for the courier
5th - courier delivers “goods”
6th - cells stored at negative 321 degrees Fahrenheit until needed.

Done! Simple bodily flood storage.

All kidding aside, I would urge anyone planning on having children to at least research this idea. Especially if you’re going to be passing on some “not so great” genes.