During Cord Blood Collection

In order to collect the cord blood, your doctor will clamp the umbilical cord after birth and then cut the cord. A needle is then used to collect the blood from the cord, which is sealed and sent to a lab or cord blood bank for testing and storage. This process is quick and is completely painless for both you and your baby.

There are also a couple of options for where the cord blood is stored. You can choose to send it to one of the following:

  1. Public cord bank: These banks store cord blood that was donated to be used by a family in need. There are no fees charged.
  2. Private cord blood bank: These are used to store the cord blood collected for use by your family only. They usually charge a fee.
  3. Direct-donation bank: These are a combination of private and public banks. They store cord blood for public use and accept donations reserved for families. They do not usually charge any fees.

Overall, the cost of cord blood banking will vary depending on a number of factors. If you would like, we can speak with you regarding these options to help you make the decision that is right for you and your family.

Post Cord Blood Collection Care

After your baby’s cord blood is collected, it is sealed, labeled, and transported to the designated lab or cord blood bank for processing and storage. At the lab, it undergoes testing to assess cell count, viability, and to screen for infections or genetic disorders. This ensures the cord blood stem cells meet the quality standards necessary for cord blood transplant or future clinical trials.

You won’t need to do anything after the cord blood collection is complete, but your bank may contact you with test results or confirmation of successful blood storage. If you’re using a private cord blood bank, you’ll be responsible for annual storage fees, while public banks and public cord blood donations are typically free of charge.

While there’s no immediate aftercare needed for you or your baby, keeping your bank’s contact information on hand and updating them with any changes to your family’s medical history can help ensure your baby’s cord blood is available and useful if ever needed for a stem cell transplant.