The Step-by-Step Process of Enrolling in a Cord Blood Bank

Preserving the cord and cord blood is crucial after a baby’s birth. Even a few years ago, the umbilical cord was treated as medical waste. Today, the baby’s umbilical cord is known as the “holy grail” of life.

As to-be-parents, cord blood banking is an essential decision for you. It safeguards you, your baby as well as the rest of the family members from over 80 life-threatening diseases.

If you’re a parent-to-be and thinking about enrolling in a cord blood bank, you need some necessary details about cord blood banking.

The Journey of Cord Blood Banking

Since cord blood is the blood left behind in the umbilical cord and the placenta after the baby’s delivery it is rich in life–saving stem cells. The US FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) endorses cord blood for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, providing vital treatment options for blood disorders, cancers, immune deficiencies, and metabolic disorders. Once the parents-to-be decide to bank their baby’s stem cells, the journey begins by choosing the right cord blood bank. A premium cord blood bank facilitates the process from cord blood collection to cryopreservation.

Cord Blood Collection

Immediately after birth, trained staff securely cuts and clamps the umbilical cord a few inches apart from your baby (to separate you from your baby) and uses a sterile needle and bag to collect the vital blood. There are two effective methods for this process: ex utero, where a syringe is directly inserted into the umbilical cord to extract blood cells, and in utero, which takes place after the placenta is delivered. Since the umbilical cord has no nerves, this process is completely painless for both you and your newborn. The cord blood is collected and put in a cord blood collection kit box.

Shipment

The cord blood collection kit box is transported from the hospital to the cord blood processing unit.

Cord Blood Processing

Once the cord blood reaches the laboratory, the cord blood undergoes a proper quality check. Premium cord blood banks use an advanced stem cell processing technology with its cutting-edge AXP® II (Auto Express Platform). This FDA-approved system adheres to the highest cGMP and cGTP standards, guaranteeing an entirely additive-free process. AXP® II boasts an impressive recovery of up to 99.8% of vital hematopoietic and progenitor cells from umbilical cord blood, making it the go-to choice for transplants and therapies.

Cryopreservation

Once the cord blood stem cells are harvested, they are stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. The stem cells can be preserved for 21 years or even longer. This ensures your baby’s cord blood remains an asset for your family, ready for use when needed. Enjoy peace of mind knowing this critical resource is safely stored for your family’s healthy future.

Before you decide to enrol, sign the agreement with these criteria written in it and pay a nominal price for cord blood banking. 

Author Bio: Prapti Chauhan is a professor of Genetics in Bangalore. She has contributed to several online research papers. However, she passionately develops content on pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, stem cell banking and cord blood stem cell preservation.