Cord blood donation surges as hospitals launch public collection programs

[desrt]

http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/02/11490071-cord-blood-donation-surges-as-hospitals-launch-public-collection-programs?lite

".....The programs, which are free to parents, collect cord blood immediately after birth for listing on the National Be The Match Registry operated by the National Marrow Donor Program network......There is sharp competition from private banks, which typically charge $2,000 to collect the cord blood and additional monthly fees to store it for the family’s future personal use.......Medical experts such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have come out against private banking unless parents had an older child with cancer or a genetic disease that could benefit from a sibling’s donation. AAP experts estimate that the chances are only about 1 in 2,700 that a child will need his or her own cord blood to treat disease in the future. Instead, the AAP has encouraged public banking as a way to increase access to stem-cell therapy."

[specialmom]

When I had my kids, oh let's see, 8 and 7 years ago . . . this wasn't too popular but I read about it.  I, to be honest, wanted to do it.  They made it sound like if my child were to get something down the road that having this banked for them could save their lives.  Who wouldn't want that??

But it was a private company doing it and it was super expensive (well, I thought so)-----  over a 1000 dollars if I remember correctly or even more.  It was enough for me to feel I couldn't afford it (knowing I'd kick myself if I ever needed it.).

I'd obviously have done it if it were free.  Why wouldn't anyone?  Even if it is just used as research someday---  better than just being waste the hospital gets rid of.  

[desrt]

Well, the benefit would be to widen the pool of potential donors, similar to what FB is trying to do with organ donations. Besides being the obvious cloesest genetic matches, I would imagine the Registry would give the immediate family priority in using any viable cell cultures. If not, then, of course private banking would make more sense.
I think it's an interesting topic. Let us know anything you discover in your research.

[adgal]

I didn't know a lot of this info.  We actually have banked our son's cord blood, but did it privately.  I will have to do a little research I guess to see if we have chosen the best option.

I do know that one of the benefits of banking cord blood privately is the genetic match to other family.  For example, it would be a very close match to a sibling, but also to parents, grandparents, cousins, etc.  I guess I have a hard time seeing the benefit to public banking?  

Also, the information provided to us was quite different.  We were told that banking his own cord blood privately could cure a whole host of potential illness', and with continuing advancements in technology, we really felt we were investing in his future health doing it this way.  I hope we didn't get taken, although it wasn't as expensive as mentioned in the article.  Interesting stuff, thank desrt