**Note: The topics discussed here in “Caring for Your Child” are for your general information and are not a substitute for medical advice. You should contact your physician or other healthcare provider with any questions about your health, treatment, or care, or to discuss the information you have read here.

• What is cord blood banking?
  
  • Started in the 1970’s
  • Immediately after birth, a baby has its umbilical cord clamped to release them from the mother
  • Shortly after that, the mother delivers the placenta and remainder of the umbilical cord.
  • Before the cord and placenta are delivered, blood and stem cells are taken from the veins present and stored into syringes or special bags
  • The specimen is sent to a cord blood bank by a special courier and the cells are separated out and frozen (in liquid nitrogen)
  • Prior to the freezing process, blood cells are tested for infections and genetic defects. If something abnormal is found, the infant’s parents are notified.
  • Then later, if needed, stem cells can be thawed and given to another person (close relative or anonymous donor) or used for oneself;
• What is the difference between public and private cord blood donation?
  
  • Private cord blood banking is storing your child’s blood for his/her future use or for a family member; this is a paid service with a for profit company
  • Public cord blood banking (aka donation) means that a child’s cord blood is stored for anyone in need of a transplant or may be used for research.
• If a parent decides on cord blood donation how far in advance should they notify the bank?
  
  • At the 34th week of pregnancy (4-6 weeks prior to delivery)
• Is this the right thing for my baby and me?
  
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends banking cord blood if you have a close relative or sibling with a medical condition that could benefit from bone marrow transplant with umbilical stem cells
  • Banking cord blood “just in case”, like a type of “insurance policy” against illness is not yet advised; The technology is new and currently
  • No research exists yet that says cord blood is superior to traditional bone marrow donation from a sibling or stranger.
  • And again, the umbilical stem cells may cause disease to come up again in a child from whom they were harvested
• What should you look for in a private cord blood bank if you decide to go that route?
  • Is your cord blood company financially stable?
  • How many specimens are processed in the facility?
  • Can you switch storage facilities if you so choose?
  • What happens to your baby’s cells if the company goes bankrupt?
  • What are the costs for initial collection and processing? What are the yearly maintenance fees? Will the fees ever go up? Or are they fixed?
• What type of price range should a parent expect to pay for private cord blood banking?
  • Approximately $1500 to store and collect a sample of cord blood and an additional yearly maintenance fee of ~$100
  • There is no charge to donate cord blood to a public cord blood bank
• Can my child’s cord blood be taken without my knowledge or consent?
  • No. An informed consent must be obtained before your child’s cord blood can be taken
• If a child’s cord blood is donated to a public bank, can it be retrieved for his or her personal use?
  
  • No. However, many times a person would not be able to use their own blood anyway because their umbilical cord stem cells will carry the same genetic defects as their other body cells
  • Also, parents who donate their child’s blood should notify their bank if some new illness is found in the baby
• How long is cord blood viable in storage?
  
  • We don’t know yet. The process is relatively new. The oldest known specimen used for transplant was 14 yrs old. However, if the cryogenic process works successfully the cells should last indefinitely.
• What conditions can be curently treated with cord blood cells?
  
  • Certain childhood cancers (Leukemia, lymphoma)
  • Bone Marrow Failure (aplastic anemia)
  • Blood diseases/problems with hemoglobin (severe sickle cell anemia and thalassemia)
  • Immune system disorders (SCID – severe combined immune deficiency)
  • Metabolic diseases

Recommended websites:

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.htm (main source for this information)

http://www.kidsource.com/safety/summer.safety.art.html

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-bin/search.pl

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/outdoor/west_nile.html