How Much Does Cord Blood Banking Cost?

According to Cord Blood Registry, cord blood is defined as “the blood that remains in your baby’s umbilical cord after the cord has been cut, is a rich source of unique stem cells that can be used in medical treatments.”  Cord blood has been shown to help treat over 80 diseases, such as leukemia, other cancers, and blood disorders.  This cord blood, which can be safely removed from your newborn’s already-cut umbilical cord, can be privately stored for the purpose of possible use in the future for your child or family member.  (It can also be donated to a public bank, but this is not widely available)

How much is it?

• There is usually a one-time processing/preparation fee of around $2000.  First year fees on average can range anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
• There will be some kind of shipping charge, usually around $150.
• There is an annual storage cost of anywhere from $100-$200 depending on the company you choose.

What is going to be included?

• The extraction of the cord blood from your baby’s umbilical cord is the first step.  If you choose not to bank the cord blood, it will merely be thrown away.
• The cord blood will be prepared for temporary storage while being shipped to the storage facility.
• Once it arrives at the storage facility, the cord blood will be processed and placed in storage.  The cord blood will either be completely immersed in liquid nitrogen or it will be stored in nitrogen vapor.

What are the extra costs?

• Some cord blood banks also offer storage of the cord tissue for an additional charge.
• Some banks charge extra for the collection kit, but these are usually included.

Tips to know:

• Cord blood banking is ideal for families that have diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, cancers and sickle cell.
• If you feel that the procedure is too expensive for your child, check with the hospital to see if there are any programs and/or grants available that can assist with the procedure.
• Cord blood banking is highly ideal for those that want to have quick access to the blood cord units.  This is ideal for procedures such as a transplant.
• Even if you don’t want to store the cord blood, highly consider donating the cord blood to local public banks.  This cord blood can help patients that are on waiting lists with diseases such as leukemia.
• If highly considering the option of donating cord blood, be sure to notify your OB/GYN or hospital during the 34th week.

Questions to ask:

• Is the bank public or privately held?  How is this company financially?
• Is the bank related to any type of institution or hospital?
• Is the cord blood banking center affiliated with any type of research center?  Some centers may use the cord blood for research, rather than sending it off to donate it.
• Are there any other services that you offer that I can take advantage of?
• How long have you been in the business of cord blood banking?  Why should I choose this company?
• How many samples do you currently hold?  How are they stored?

How can I save money?

• Many blood banks offer discounts to people who pay in advance for a certain number of years.
• You may also purchase some of the Cord Blood Banking Books that can inform you of a lot more things that you should be aware of.
• Some hospitals such as the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute will bank cord blood to those that meet certain criteria.  More information can be found on their website.

How can I compare prices?

• When choosing a cord blood bank, you need to inquire how the blood is stored (liquid nitrogen or vapor).
• You should also ask how the temperature of your specimen is regulated.
• How the facility is built (for instance, would it withstand a tornado or other natural disaster) can have an effect on the safety of your specimen.
• The location of the storage facility does not matter as much as these other issues.

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