Cord Blood Banking: Trusted Resources for Informed Decisions

Choosing whether to bank your baby’s cord blood is a significant decision. These reputable organizations provide evidence-based information, standards, and support:

Professional & Accreditation Bodies

• Cord Blood Association (CBA): Nonprofit promoting ethical practices, education, and research. Offers FAQs, webinars, and a directory of accredited banks.
• AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks): Sets global standards for cord blood collection, processing, and storage. Accredited banks undergo rigorous inspections.
• Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT): Gold-standard accreditation for cellular therapy programs, including cord blood banks.

Government & Public Health Resources

• Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) – Blood Cell Transplant: Federal oversight of the national cord blood inventory (NCBI) and donor registry.
• National Marrow Donor Program (NMP) / Be The Match: Operates the NCBI; provides patient education and search tools for matched units.
• FDA – Cellular & Gene Therapy Products: Regulatory framework for cord blood as a biologic product.

Consumer-Focused Organizations

• Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation: Independent, nonprofit comparison of private banks, public donation options, and medical indications.
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) & American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Policy statements on private vs. public banking.

Personal Guidance

Discuss with your obstetrician, midwife, or a genetic counselor. They can contextualize your family history, ethnicity, and likelihood of future need.

Key Questions to Ask Any Bank: Accreditation status, processing method, storage location, financial stability, retrieval success rates, and all-inclusive costs (collection, processing, annual storage).