Compare Cord Blood Banks

Deciding whether to store your baby's cord blood in a private bank or to donate it to a public bank is a major decision. Once you've opted to go with a private facility, though, how do you compare cord blood banks in order to make an informed decision about which institution will provide the best and most reliable experience for your family, and especially your baby, should the need to use that umbilical cord blood ever arise?
Well, there are many factors to consider when weighing your options, but the following are some of the things you should take into consideration.
First, what is the level of expertise of the facility? What is the minimum level of training of their staff? What is their reputation in the medical community? These are all things that can be found out quite easily. You could perform a Google search, for one thing, and ask you obstetrician. That's just to begin with. If you have concerns, your physician can point you to the various accrediting agencies in your local area to check with and determine the facility's track record.
Next, what is the facility itself like? Is their building and their equipment state of the art. You should absolutely be shown where your child's precious cord blood is going to be stored before making a commitment to a particular facility. It's a huge decision, don't depend on photos and promises that they will do a good job - you want to see the place for yourself!
Can you talk to other families that have availed themselves of the service? Whether you want to call it references, or testimonials, or just getting a sense of how the bank has dealt with past clients, it's absolutely essential that you talk to real people who have had dealings with the cord blood bank in the past. Ask tough questions. Find out if there were ever any problems, and, if there were, how the facility dealt with them.
Lastly, what is their pricing structure like? Trust me, I know that this isn't the time to go bargain hunting, but neither is it the time to be the victim of price-gouging. Check out what the price plans are for different facilities, and make sure that the place you are thinking of going with isn't far out of line - either over or under what the standard price seems to be.