The stem cells from the cord blood have the potential of curing over 70 types of blood related and genetic disorders.
It is no wonder that its popularity is growing worldwide.
India is riding on the wave too as many private cord blood banking companies are being set up.
Yet many families are put off of storing the cord blood of their child. Most often the reason is associated with the high stem cell preservation cost.
We tell you more about the fees here.
Why Stem Cell Banking is Expensive?
Although the stem cell preservation cost that is associated with the various cord blood companies can seem a little overwhelming, it is important to know why they charge what they do. And the stem cell preservation cost in India are usually higher for a private cord blood bank.
The fees include:
- The collection, transport, processing and storage of the blood unit. This includes an initial fee and an annual storage cost.
- Upkeep and maintenance of the state-of-art laboratories
- Training costs of the specialists, researchers and other employees
- Advertising and marketing costs
- Accreditation expenses
Among these processing of the blood units and the accreditation process is the most expensive.
An accredited company is of more repute than one that is not. But accreditation means that it will have to abide by several the regulations as laid down by the accrediting body. This adds to the operating cost of the cord blood bank.
You might also be interested in reading:
- Week by Week Guide to Your Pregnancy
- A Beginner’s Guide to Stem Cell Banking
- Understanding the Umbilical Cord
- Stem Cell Banking in India: An Overview
Should Price Govern Your Decision?
Price is bound be a major concern for you when it comes to deciding if you will bank your child’s cord blood or not.
When you are searching for an appropriate cord blood bank you are likely to come across many inexpensive ones. This might look tempting but it is better that you do more research before finalizing your decision.
Often you will find that the lower priced banks don’t have features that are needed to store the blood units safely.
So instead of just considering the price tag, also find out if the:
- Bank is accredited
- Condition of the laboratories is modern
- Equipments being used are safe and secure
- Personnel are properly trained
- Facilities are adequate for long term storage of the cord blood
Private Cord Blood Banks Know the Costs are High
Cost of stem cell banking in India is high and most private cord blood banks have realized this.
To solve this the top Indian stem cell banks are now offering various payment plans and also discounts to suit every potential parent’s pocket. Added to this, if you are a parent who is in urgent need for the stem cells then you might also be avail of the facilities free of cost.
So, before you finally bank your child’s cord blood, do ask the bank what pricing plans and options they offer.
Some questions that you should ask:
- Prepayment Discount: Find out if the bank of your choice offers any discounts if you contract them to store the blood units for extended periods of time
- Courier Fees: Some banks tend to include the courier and shipping cots into the fees while some don’t. Read in between the lines to know who is exactly offering what
- Family: If you are banking the cord blood of more than one child then it is good to know if you will get a discount for multiple storage contracts.
- Armed Forces: Some banks offer discounted rates for members of the armed forces
- Free Storage: If your first born needs the stem cells and you are expecting currently, then the newborn’s cord blood may be stored free of cost. Find out more about this from the bank of your choice before you sign on the dotted lines
Fees Charged by Top Cord Blood Stem Cell Companies in India
(All costs are in rupee terms)
Life Cell
Amount payable during enrollment: 19990
Fee for single site storage:
- Annual fee: 3500
- Prepaid fee for 21 years: 25000
- Life time storage: 50000
- Life time storage with medical insurance of 20 lakhs: additional fee of 50000
Fee for dual site storage:
- Annual fee: 4000
- Prepaid fee for 21 years: 30000
- Life time storage: 60000
- Life time storage with medical insurance of 20 lakhs: additional fee of 50000
CordLife India
- Amount payable during enrollment: 5000
- Basic Scheme: Cord blood and cord portions processing and storage for 21 years: 50000
- Cordsure: Cord blood and Cord portions processing and storage for 25 years: 60000
- Explant: Cord blood Processing and Patented Explant Differentiation Culture for 25 years: 94000
- Epicord50M: Cord blood Processing and Patented Explant Differentiation and Expansion Cultures for 25 years: 142000
For all the schemes CordLife has flexible payment options if one time payment is not possible.
BabyCell
- Amount payable during enrollment: 5000
- Babycell Biocord: Cord blood and cord tissue banking: 59000
- The cost includes processing and 21 years of storage fee
- Multiplication of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) is free of cost
For all the schemes BabyCell has flexible payment options if one time payment is not possible.
Other than these, the fees charged by the other banks for storing the cord blood for 21 years is:
- Cyro Save: Storage of cord blood for 21 years is 89000 and storage of cord blood and cord tissue for 21 years is 94000
- Reelabs: 69000