Cord Blood Bank Comparison Chart

FamilyCords' Cord Blood Direct promotes the essentials of quality cord blood banking: premium service, the industry's safest cord blood collection kit, state-of-the-art processing and storage, and long term corporate stability. Selecting a cord blood bank is an important decision and we believe there are clear differences in cord blood banks beyond the AABB accreditation. Below is a chart detailing some key factors about FamilyCord and other leading AABB accredited facilities. Compare for yourself!

	FamilyCord	Cord Blood Registry	ViaCord
* Updated as of November 2009 from company websites

Annual Storage One-Time Processing Shipping Total 1st Year Fee Promotional Discount Total	$ 125 $1,700 $ 150 $1,975 - $ 300 $1,675	$ 125 $1,875 $ 150 $2,150 - $ 155 $1,995	$ 125 $1,920 $ 150 $2,195 $2,195
AABB Accredited American Association of Blood Banks FamilyCord is accredited with the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). Since 1957, AABB has been a leader in the development of standards for voluntary compliance in blood bank blood component collection, processing and transfusion. In 1991, the AABB published its first Standards for Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells which covers the collection, processing and transplantation of marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood progenitor cells. The AABB Accreditation Program strives to improve the quality and safety of collecting, processing, testing, distributing and administering blood and blood products. The Accreditation Program assesses the quality and operational systems in place within the facility. The basis for assessment includes compliance with Standards, Code of Federal Regulations and federal guidance documents. This independent assessment of a facility's operation helps them to prepare for other inspections and serves as a valuable tool to improve both compliance and operations. Accreditation is granted for collection, processing, testing, distribution, and administration of blood and blood components; hematopoietic progenitor cell activities; cord blood activities; perioperative activities; parentage testing activities; immunohematology reference laboratories and SBB schools.	yes	Delisted	yes
CD34 Testing (Stem Cell Count) CD34 Testing (Stem Cell Count) Cells expressing CD34 (CD34+ cell) are normally found in the umbilical cord and bone marrow as hematopoietic cells.	yes		yes
FDA Registered FDA Registered Our facility is registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We follow FDA guidelines for testing, processing, storing, labeling, and distribution of umbilical cord blood stem cells.	yes	yes	yes
CLIA Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment FamilyCord follows the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) standards, which is a law passed by Congress in 1998 to regulate clinical laboratories to ensure quality in lab protocols and patient safety.	yes	yes	yes
Collection Kit with thermal stabilizers Collection Kit with Thermal Stabilizers Extreme temperature and transportation delays can destroy the stem cells in your cord blood if not properly protected. This is why FamilyCord has designed a patented, state-of-the-art collection kit to protect your blood during shipping. Our kit is OSHA compliant and considered one of the safest in the industry. Built-in temperature stabilizers protect the cord blood against weather conditions during shipping. Substantially reinforced case and protective inner tubes provide the ultimate protection against breakage. Why ship your baby's cord blood in a competitor's cardboard box, when you can have the protection of FamilyCord's Collection Kit?
Collection Method (industry standard bag) Collection Method (Industry Standard Bag) FamilyCord uses the gravity bag method. This is similar to the methods used by the American Red Cross for blood collection.		vials & bags
AFCBB Association of Family Cord Blood Banks FamilyCord belongs to the Association of Family Cord Blood Banks (AFCBB). AFCBB is an organization representing the family (private) cord blood banking industry and serves as the voice and advocate in matters of public policy, regulation and in the development of standards by accrediting organizations. The association believes that the foundation of public and private cord blood banking rests upon education of both expectant parents and physicians and upon informed consent.	yes	yes	yes
Public Donation OptionSM Public Donation OptionSM FamilyCords' Public Donation OptionSM offers expectant families the opportunity to make your babys cord blood stem cells available to others in need. By signing up for the Donation OptionSM, you're indicating your interest in donating your baby's cord blood stem cells after a minimum of 10 years of private storage before listing the cord blood on the public donation registry.
Years in Business	30	15	14

Enroll Now - FamilyCord Cord Blood Banking

FamilyCord's Cancellation Policy

If no collection takes place or FamilyCord cannot store your cord blood for any reason, you will be refunded any amount charged minus the $150 enrollment/collection kit fee.

Cord Blood Bank Comparison Chart

American Association of Blood Banks

CD34 Testing (Stem Cell Count)

FDA Registered

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment

Collection Kit with Thermal Stabilizers

Collection Method (Industry Standard Bag)

Association of Family Cord Blood Banks

Public Donation OptionSM

FamilyCord's Cancellation Policy