“Should I bank my baby’s cord blood stem cells? Or, should I not?” This is a question on almost every parent-to-be’s mind. But, why has this become a topic of discussion? And why is the process of stem cell banking grabbing so much attention? Well, it’s all thanks to the endless therapeutic benefits that your newborn’s umbilical cord blood stem cells possess, including the ability to protect your child against 90+ potential medical conditions. These benefits of stem cells may also be extended to your entire family with a stem cell banking program like LifeCell’s Community model. To know more about this, you can visit www.lifecell.in.
Despite the ever-growing significance of cord blood stem cells, one reason parents often back away from this life-saving step is because of its “cost factor”. So, what is the actual cost of stem cell preservation in India? Is cord blood banking really as costly as parents often assume it to be? Let’s go get some answers!
The Cost Of Stem Cell Preservation In India
A number of cord blood stem cell banks operate in India with varying costs of enrollment. But before delving into their costs, let’s understand the types of stem cell banks out there in a quick glance.
Stem Cell Banking Types
The stem cell banks are broadly divided into Private and Public banks.
As the terms suggest, a private bank allows you to opt for your baby’s stem cell preservation at a defined cost. And only you will have access to those stem cells.
A public bank, on the other hand, functions by banking donated cord blood stem cells by potential parents for free. Here, the parents do not have to pay the stem cell bank anything and vice versa.
Recently, a new type of stem cell banking system has also forayed into the picture. And that’s a Community Stem Cell Bank like India’s Largest Stem Cell Bank, LifeCell. This type of cord blood bank allows all its members to access any stem cell unit stored in the community at a very reasonable price.
More About The Community Stem Cell Banking Model
As we’ve already comprehended by now, donating your baby’s cord blood stem cells to a public bank comes at no cost. However, the cost of stem cell preservation in India in both the private and community banking models may vary.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the collection or storage of umbilical cord blood with private cord blood banks is not yet supported by any available evidence. The cost of private stem cell banks are also observed to be comparatively higher than the other banking models out there.
And that leaves us with the third type, which is the Community Stem Cell Bank Program initiated by LifeCell. 3 4
Here’s how LifeCell’s Community Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank stands out from their counterparts.
- It’s India’s Largest Stem Cell Bank
- This bank combines the benefits of both public & private stem cell banks
- Boasts of cord blood stem cell inventory comprising 75000+ qualified units
- Provides more than 97% chance of finding an Indian-origin stem cell match
- Has a dual-site storage facility for sample backup during unprecedented times
- Covers entire family, including baby’s parents, siblings, and grandparents (paternal & maternal)
In addition to these, there are still a number of benefits that LifeCell’s Community Banking model provides. To know more about them, you may call their expert at 1800 266 55 33.
The Cost Of Preserving Your Baby’s Cord Blood Stem Cells In India
Now that you’ve a fair idea about the different types of stem cell banking models out there, let’s delve deeper into the cost of stem cell preservation in India.
If you’re opting for a Community Banking model like LifeCell, the cost of cord blood stem cell preservation starts at just ₹ 20,330, after which you’ve to pay an annual renewal fee of just ₹ 4500 annually to avail their continued cryopreservation services. You can also choose from their other 2 plans that include a one time payment of ₹ 49,144 to preserve your baby’s cord blood for 21 years. Or, their 75 years plan that includes a one time payment of ₹ 63,511! However, please note that these prices do not include GST.
Other than LifeCell’s Community Stem Cell Bank, you may also choose to bank your baby’s cord blood stem cells with private banks where the preservation cost varies between 45,000 to 75,000 for 21 years of availing their cryopreservation service.
Conclusion
As you may have already grasped by now, the cost of stem cell preservation in India isn’t all that unreasonable as some think of it to be. In fact, if you’re really interested in banking your little human’s cord blood stem cells, talk to your doctor and find a banking model that best suits your needs as well as your budget.
Furthermore, if you have any doubts pertaining to the Community Stem Cell Banking Program provided by LifeCell, you also have the choice to get in touch with their experts at 1800 266 55 33.
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9584102/
- https://www.lifecell.in/product/health-bank/stemcell-banking-asf
- https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/03/umbilical-cord-blood-banking
- https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/family-banking/india
