Public Cord Blood Banks
Cord blood banks are creating a lot of buzz especially in new parents or soon-to-be parents. The possibility of helping and protecting their child in the future in cases of life-threatening diseases through umbilical cord blood storage is a very attractive option. However, the high cost of private cord blood banking makes it a bit difficult for the parents to avail of this service. This makes them think of a better investment for the $2,000 tab that they will have to pay a private cord blood bank. Should they use it to pay for their kid's college tuition instead? This is one of the main concerns why storing cord blood in public cord blood banks is more encouraged than storing it in private cord blood banks.
Solution to genetic problems
Public cord blood banks can be a solution to the genetic problems that can be encountered in using one's own stem cells. There is a lot of controversy surrounding private cord blood banking and this has made people turn to public cord blood banks. The American Academy of Pediatrics has advised that private storage of cord blood as a “biological insurance” is not wise. This has been recently highlighted by the case of Anthony Dones who had osteoporosis at four months. Anthony's parents privately stored his cord blood in a private bank. Since the operation to treat the osteoporosis required cord blood transplant, they found out in the end that they will not be able to use Anthony's own cord blood because the osteoporosis was also genetically infected in the cord blood. In short, the cord blood was useless. His parents had to go to a public cord blood bank to get a stem cell match from another child's blood cord.
Helping others and helping yourself
Donating your blood cord through public cord blood banks can help the people who need it most. It will also allow for a large pool of blood cords, creating diversity and availability for everyone. When you donate cord blood to a public cord blood bank, you and your child can help save a life together. This is a very beautiful legacy for you both, and a very symbolic one as well. The umbilical cord that connected you together and sustained life to your child can still do its function even after birth to another life this time. The more that public cord blood banks are able to diversify and expand its pool of blood cord through donations, the more chances that you will get a stem cell match for your child when he or she needs it in the future. The establishment of more public cord blood banks in the country are being encouraged through the Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005.