Cord Blood Banking

Donating your umbilical cord blood could save a life.

Each year in the U.S, approximately 35, 000people are diagnosed with cancers and other diseases that are treatable with cord blood stem cells.

Half of the patient requiring cord blood stem cell transplants can find a compatible match with their families and half cannot.

What is cord blood?

Cord blood is the blood remaining in the placenta after your baby is delivered.  This blood used to be discarded with the placenta but today we know how valuable cord blood is to patients with a variety of illnesses.

Why is cord blood needed?

Cord blood is rich in stem cells that generate all of the blood cells and immune system cells needed in a human body.  Cord blood stem cells can be used to treat cancers such as leukemia and blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia.

How is cord blood collected?

After you give birth, the umbilical cord is clamped, cut and your baby is cared for by the nursing staff.  While waiting for the placenta to be delivered, the doctor can collect the blood from the umbilical cord into a blood bag.  No additional people come into the delivery room.

At Meridian Women’s Health and Northwest Hospital there are three options for your umbilical cord blood.

• Discard.
• Donate to a private cord blood bank for the exclusive use of your family.  The setup fee differs between different companies and can cost approximately $ 1800 with a maintenance fee of approximately $125 per year.  Established companies include Via Cord (1-866-880-6570), New England Cord Blood Bank, Inc. (1-888-700-2673) and Cryo-Cell (1-800-786-7235).
• Donate to a public cord blood bank through Puget Sound Blood Center.  The donated blood may not be available for the use of your family in the future.  There is no cost.  More information is available at cordblood@psbc.org.