Americord is a private cord blood bank in the U.S. that offers the collection and storage of cells from umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue. An increasing number of parents are trying to decide about privately storing, publicly donating, or discarding their newborn’s umbilical cord blood and other birth tissues as medical waste.
It is a difficult decision and there are many factors to consider. Every parent-to-be wants the best for their baby, which makes it difficult to decide about cord blood banking publicly, privately, or not at all.
Americord®
In this article:
- About Americord
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells
- Cord Blood 2.0™
- Delayed Cord Clamping and Cord Blood Collections
- Cord Tissue Banking
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- Americord™ Collection Kit
- Cord Blood 2.0™ Benefits
About Americord
Americord® is a leader in cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta tissue banking. As one of the only banks to offer placenta tissue banking and the only cord blood bank with Cord Blood 2.0™ technology, Americord® offers stem cell banking at a fraction of the cost of some of the market leaders.
Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Cord blood contains valuable hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that are currently being used to treat over 80 diseases including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, immune system disorders, bone marrow cancers, anemias, and more. HSCs can become any of the blood cells and cellular blood components in our bodies (such as white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, etc.), and they are currently being used to treat over 80 diseases.
Cord Blood 2.0™
To collect these valuable stem cells, Americord® developed Cord Blood 2.0™, one of the most groundbreaking advancements in umbilical cord blood banking. Until now, a huge limitation of cord blood banking has been that the number of stem cells preserved in a typical cord blood collection is only sufficient to treat someone up to 65 pounds. With Cord Blood 2.0™, up to twice as many stem cells can be collected and saved, making it possible to treat larger patients and expand treatment opportunities for smaller patients.
Americord® makes it possible to perform stem cell therapy and stem cell treatments on a child into adolescence and even adulthood. Banking cord blood can now be an insurance policy for life since it is possible to collect enough stem cells to treat children and adults.
Delayed Cord Clamping and Cord Blood Collections
More and more parents are now becoming concerned delayed cord clamping and cord blood collections. Americord™ believes that parents should be able to do both. Now that it is possible to collect twice as many stem cells, parents can do a cord blood collection after delayed cord clamping that results in a viable collection size and volume while still providing their child with the health benefits of delayed cord clamping.
Americord® also agrees with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which states that delaying cord clamping for 1.5-3 minutes is ideal. When the cord blood collection is begun no later than 3 minutes, the chances of a viable collection size are high.
Cord Tissue Banking
Along with many other cord blood banks, Americord® offers cord tissue banking along with cord blood banking. However, Americord® is one of the only banks to offer placenta tissue banking. A lot of parents-to-be don’t realize the possibilities for placenta tissue since most cord banking companies still do not offer it as a banking option. Offering placenta tissue banking gives families the ability to bank on Mom too.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Banking your baby’s placenta tissue means saving mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are a genetic match to mom. During pregnancy, the mother’s body uses MSCs to create the placenta, which acts as a barrier between her body and the baby’s. This newly built organ nourishes the growing child throughout pregnancy and provides a filtration system to pass nutrients to the baby that they need. After birth, Americord® collects the entire placenta and selects the most valuable portions for storage in order to collect the stem cells that are a genetic match to the mother.
With new uses for the placenta on the horizon, moms are choosing to save this incredible organ rather than discard it. Researchers also agree that MSCs, like those from placenta tissue, hold the keys to the future of stem cell treatments and research.
Americord™ Collection Kit
But, how much is cord blood banking? Banking cord blood does not have to be out of reach because of cost. Instead of paying doctors for referrals or spending millions on marketing, savings are passed on directly to parents-to-be. With every Americord™ Collection Kit, 20 years of free stem cell storage is included. There are no annual fees, processing fees, or shipping fees. Americord® doesn’t charge anything until after we have given a Certificate of Storage has been sent, confirming that the stem cells are viable and safely stored.
Unlike Cord Blood Registry and Viacord, who both charge yearly for umbilical cord blood banking, Americord® offers both a one-time payment and a 24-month payment plan option that covers 20 years of storage. Cord Blood 2.0™ is $2,999 for a one-time payment or $139 for 24 months as a payment plan. Americord® believes that each client should have easy and free access to their collection whenever needed. If a family ever needs a cord blood transplant, Americord® will release the cells at no charge and will pay for up to $500 of the shipping cost.
Cord Blood 2.0™ Benefits
When weighing cord blood banking pros and cons, it’s important to remember that in order for this investment to last a lifetime, enough stem cells will need to be collected and stored to treat the child as he or she grows. Cord blood uses are increasing each year and twenty years ago, there were no diseases treated with these stem cells. In future years, the possible benefits of cord blood banking will likely cover a much larger array of diseases and illnesses.
Cord Blood 2.0 protects this investment and provides the best chance to collect more stem cells for future years. Similarly, placenta tissue clinical trials are on the rise and there is data showing enormous potential in treating type 1 diabetes, assisting in stem cell transplants, and alleviating optical disorders. This is a chance to ensure possible treatment options for mom as research progresses and discovers more uses. Reaping the benefits of stem cells from cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta tissue do not have to be out of reach financially. Banking with Americord® means the highest quality banking, innovative stem cell options, and the absolute best value.
Do you have any questions about Americord? Ask them in the comments section below.