Comparing Cord Blood Banks

Accreditation and Standards

Health Canada inspected: In Canada, Health Canada inspects facilities to determine whether the cord blood bank meets specific requirements set forth by the federal government. As U.S. cord blood banks will have different quality standards, it is recommended that Canadians should use a cord blood bank that is based in Canada. As most U.S. cord blood banks advertise in Canada, the expectant parents should take care to ensure that the facility performing the procedure is based in Canada, and that they are not simply making a call to the U.S. or to a branch office of a U.S. company.

AABB accredited: AABB (American Association of Blood Banks), the largest international accreditation body for hematology labs, including blood banks and cord blood banks inspects and accredits cord blood banks that have met their stringent standards. It is recommended that parents only choose from AABB accredited cord blood banks.

Collection of Cord Blood Sample

Cord blood collection is a 'non-invasive' procedure, meaning that there is essentially no danger to either the mother or child. This is because cord blood is collected after delivery, on the umbilical cord and placenta, which will eventually be discarded in any event.

There is no interruption to the birthing process, and either the physician or the nurse will simply collect the cord blood within five minutes after a successful delivery. The collection may be performed before or after the placenta is expelled, and may even be performed with a C-section delivery, if the cord blood bank provides a suitable collection kit.

Processing Methods

This type of storage keeps samples in the 'vapor' of liquid nitrogen as opposed to keeping it in the liquid itself. Because samples are stored in tanks holding hundreds of other stem cell units, storage in vapor, though more expensive, is preferred since it eliminates the risk of potential cross-contamination that exist in some cord blood banks where all samples are bathed in the same liquid. However, standard tanks are not ideal for vapor storage as they are designed to maintain consistently low cryogenic temperatures only in the liquid-phase.

'Cryo-bags' are replacing vials as the preferred method of sample storage. The older, vial-based method increases the potential of seepage of liquid nitrogen in and out of the screw-top lids of the vials, a concern especially in liquid phase storage. Additionally, vials are not a 'closed system', meaning cells are unnecessarily exposed to contaminants during processing. It is important to note that a number of cord blood banks have been unwilling to pay the added expense of the new cryo-bag system try to convince consumers that vials are acceptable method. While Health Canada has not yet limited the use of vials in cord blood banking, it should be noted that storage using vials is falling into general disfavor.

Pentastarch is a chemical used in the processing of cord blood. In contrast to alternatives such as 'hetastarch'. which is not permitted for use in Canada due to its toxicity, pentastarch is approved for injection in humans in Canada. This is another reason why Canadians should choose a cord blood bank that is located in Canada as cord blood banks in Canada are permitted to use only pentastarch as opposed to hetastarch during cord blood processing.

Only freezing of the sample at a rate controlled by a computer

will allow maximal survivability of the stem cells that are being banked. This expensive equipment is not available in every laboratory, and some cord blood banks may forgo this important process and use alternative methods such as manual freezing, which damages the stem cells in the cord blood being frozen.

Volume reduction is an important procedure performed by all modern cord blood banks. This procedure serves to reduce the volume of the cord blood prior to storage in order to minimize the storage space while maximizing the "surface-area-to-volume ratio", to allow more even and rapid freezing of the cord blood. Some cord blood banks freeze down the whole blood without volume reduction, but this is not recommended and not a typical practice.

All cord blood is supposed to be processed under sterile, or 'aseptic' conditions, meaning that technological precautions are taken to reduce or eliminate the possibility that the cord blood may become infected during the banking procedure. Aseptic processing is a necessary consideration during cord blood banking since cord blood may be transfused and therefore must be sterile.

Corporate Stability

Perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of a cord blood bank is financial stability, as your child's cord blood will be banked for up to, or in some cases, greater than 18 years.

We have noted that some cord blood banks are eager to point out that they are publicly traded on a stock exchange and perform research, claiming that this makes them more trustworthy; however, such activities do not directly benefit their clients: You do not want the stability of your child's cord blood to depend upon the volatilities of the stock market. Furthermore, publicly traded companies are typically under pressure from their many investors to "promise" a dramatic return on their investment. For this reason, it becomes necessary to consider risky research as a means of providing the appeal for a huge potential return. There is a possibility that the funds that should have gone into storing your child's cord blood are squandered on unnecessary marketing and research, in which the outcome is mostly unsuccessful; even if they are successful, are only of benefit to the shareholders, and not the clients.

Scientific Expertise

Cord blood banks require the expertise of Ph.D. scientists and M.D. physicians. By law, an AABB accredited facility will meet such requirements. Some companies will gather a list of impressive-sounding names as part of a "board of advisors", or as directors, but typically, these are only individuals who lend their name in exchange for an honorarium, and do not contribute to the quality of the cord blood bank itself. It is therefore important not to rely too much upon a list of names, but to focus on the merits of the company and the information provided on the site itself as an indicator of the quality of the company. There will typically also be more variability in quality in U.S. facilities, and again, Canadian parents are advised to bank within the border.