As parents, you often face situations with critical choices for your baby’s well-being. One such important, life-securing decision would be about the need for preserving your baby’s stem cells at birth. Owing to the numerous potential clinical benefits, stem cell preservation is gaining popularity as a long-term health investment. While stem cell storage can be an invaluable boon for your baby’s future health, it is also important to avail all the relevant information about the stem cell preservation cost before signing up.
Here is a clear breakdown of the financial aspects of stem cell preservation, helping you make a well-informed decision for your baby’s health.
Importance of Preserving your Baby’s Stem Cells
Umbilical cord blood, which is a rich source of stem cells (especially the hematopoietic stem cells), is collected during childbirth and the stem cells are isolated for storage and later use. Over the last few years, these cord blood stem cells have been used to treat about 80+ medical conditions. Well-preserved stem cells can be used to treat conditions ranging from leukemia and cardiac diseases to hereditary blood disorders and autoimmune diseases.
Repositories for Stem Cell Preservation
Cord blood stem cells can be preserved in well-established, quality-controlled stem cell banks. These banks encompass public banks—which store cord blood for free for use by the general public; private banks—which store cord blood for a price for the future use by your baby or immediate family; or community banks—which store cord blood for a price for use among enrolled community members. You may decide either to donate to a public cord bank or pay for private or community banking to reserve them for exclusive use.
Stem Cell Preservation Cost in India
The charges preserve stem cells in India is largely influenced by:
i) storage sample – cord blood or cord blood and placental tissue;
ii) stem cell preservation plan type – prepaid, long-term, annual, or monthly renewal plans; and
iii) accreditation type.
In India, the initial fee for cord blood collection, processing, and storage typically ranges from 20000 to 50000 INR. While annual storage charges cost around 20000 INR, lifetime storage charges ranging between 50000 to 60000 INR for 21 to 75 years are comparatively cost-effective.
Good-to-know Before Making a Choice
Make a smart choice for your baby’s long-term health by considering all the aspects of stem cell preservation service. We recommend you to avail complete information, such as:
- Total cost incurred – including cord blood collection, processing and storage.
- Type of storage plan offered – prepaid, annual, lifetime, etc.
- Any special add-ons offered – family floater program, EMI facility, etc.
- Accreditation status of the stem cell bank – check for accreditations like AABB, ICMR, DGCI, etc.
- Quality policies on sample preservation and retrieval.
- Refund policy – in case of cell expiry.
- Claim policy.
- Probability of future use.
Overall
Preservation of stem cells is a crucial decision that is tagged with long-term financial commitment. Stem cell preservation cost can be a significant financial burden on the parents. It is imperative to get a complete understanding of the service, assess the real medical need for stem cell preservation, and choose financially feasible preservation programs like the LifeCell – BabyCord from accredited banks with transparent policies.