Cord blood public donation option?

[Anonymous]

Someone told me that the major companies offer a lower cost alternative called public donation- you still pay and register your cord blood but it is available to everyone in the registry. If you happen to need it one day, it may or may not be there. If it is, you can use it. If it is not, they will try to locate a match w/in the registry for you. Has anyone else heard of this? I cannot find info on any of the websites about this. I do know about just donating the cord blood (to the National Marrow Foundation I think) at no cost but no benefit to us if we need it- but I was wondering about this middle-of-the road option I had heard about.

[Anonymous]

We are also considering donating to a public cord bank. I work in pediatric oncology and have spoke to many of the oncologists and hematologists about the benefits of private v. public banking. While private banking is popular now, there actually very few instances when you would ever use your own baby's cord blood. If they developed a disease (cancer, for example) that required a stem cell transplant, chances are that the docs would want to use stem cells from another person anyway (ideally, a family member...but if not, from the public bank). Obviously, I am not a doctor but this is my general understanding. By donating to a public bank, you are offering every child who develops a chronic illness requiring stem cells the chance for a better treatment outcome...and would most likely get your own child's stem cells from this same place if they needed them and a family member wasnt a viable donor.

Here is website that addresses some of these issues...again, I'm no doctor, but just thought I would share what I've been able to find out so far on this topic.

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/Donate_Cord_Blood_Share_Life/index.html

[Anonymous]

I was actually just looking into this yesterday. According to the American Academy of Pediactrics, they actually recommend public banking vs. private banking, see these 2 press releases below:

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/jan07cordblood.htm

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/julcord.htm

However, it looks like you would need to deliver at a hospital that is affiliated with a public bank in order to be able to donate. For DC, the hospital is Washington Hospital Center and they use a public bank organization call Stemcyte, I believe. I will be delivering at Sibley and so I emailed them to see if there was a way for them to collect my baby's cord at Sibley.

But the web link in the previous post gives some other options as well.

[Anonymous]

I am also delivering at Sibley and was told that they do not participate with any public bank. Apparently, only hospitals that do a certain volume of patients participate in this, since it is costly. I'm definitley bummed that public banking will not be an option for us.

[Anonymous]

I did donate my cord blood the first time I delivered at Holy Cross. They were able to use it for research, but I cannot give blood as I grew up in England and potentially I am a carrier of Mad Cow disease. I was disappointed as the second time I delivered at Holy Cross no one came around to ask if I would donate. Maybe I was flagged by that point as not being a good candidate?

[Anonymous]

I extensively researched this subject this past Spring because I firmly believe in public donation for the greater good. The chances of my own child needing her cord blood is negligible. After much searching I located a company where I participated in a research study that involved the National Bone Marrow Registry (I think it was through cryocell but can double check when at home later). The courier came to Sibley and picked up the packet the day after I delivered - no problems whatsoever. Your OB needs to know ahead of time and complete minimal paperwork.

[Anonymous]

Here's the link to Cryobanks international- they offer both public donation and private storage.

http://www.cryo-intl.com/options/

[Anonymous]

Does anybody know if I would be able to know whether my baby's blood was sored or discarded in case if I donate? I.e. it would be nice to know if the blood is stored. That may give me some sort of insurance that in case my family need the blood, and nobody in general public used it, I will be able to find it and retrieve for family needs?

[conoronoc]

Thanks for the commentary-the article on the pediatrics academy website is worth reading, especially if you are trying to weigh public vs private donation. the first part is scientist jargon, but the end has the recommendations and the rationale behind each one. I'll summarize what I think are the most interesting points:

1- these private blood banks have a logical argument- "biological insurance" but one that is clinically unproven. The logic can unravel when most doctors say that any cord blood is probably already pre-contaminated so most likely cannot be used by the same child. So, if it is 1 in 1,000 that your child needs his own blood blood, then of that 1 in the 1,000, it might be another 1 in 1000 that the condition didn't already exist in the cord blood. Incredibly slim odds.

Rather, if you donate to a public bank your cells can be used by others that need healthy cells (and vice versa).

2- Private blood banks marketing engines take advantage of people who are at an emotionally fragile stage....just one more thing to worry about (I read this and then started to get mad because I do have 50 pamphlets from viacord and this is one of the many things I'm worried about!

3--They do recommend storing cord blood privately if you already have a child that has signs of a serious illness where your newborns cells may be used directly for the sick child

Because of these things, my bias is to try and do a public donation. I'll confer with our OB and see what she says.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know about access the public donations? Is it only open to donors or do others have access? I scanned the linked sites, but haven't found answers to my questions yet.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at Inova Fairfax and did a public donation, which they offer, depending on the time of day you deliver (good coverage, but not complete for middle of the night). We were told that if our son should need access to the cord blood, and it is still availbale, we could access it. We were given paperwork with identifying information for this purpose.