What if there is someone in my family who is sick now and needs cord blood transplant?
Through our Sibling Connection Program in partnership with Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, we strive to provide every expectant family with a child in need of a stem cell transplant with our comprehensive service free of charge. Your child must have an established diagnosis of a disease that is currently treatable with cord blood and meet the other requirements of the program to be eligible to receive ViaCord’s cord blood banking and five years of storage services at no cost.

Can I donate my child's cord blood to ViaCord?
No. However, the National Institutes of Health has committed $30 million to establish three national public donation banks. Patients who deliver babies at these specific hospitals may donate their children's cord blood to the public bank for use by any individual who needs a stem cell transplant. These banks are an important supplement to the National Marrow Donor Program since many families cannot find a match within the family or do not have their cord blood privately banked. However, those who donate their cord blood to a public bank are not guaranteed that it will be available if it is ever needed within their family.

What about the privacy of my information?
ViaCord keeps all information that you give us with strict confidentiality. See our privacy policy.

What if I am having multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.)?
In the event of a multiple birth (twins, triplets, etc.), ViaCord has twin and triplet pricing available, please call for details.

I'm planning to adopt. What do I have to do? 
The biological mother and gestational carrier's written consent will need to be arranged through your adoption agency. ViaCord is happy to take any extra steps necessary to help facilitate permission and to ensure strict confidentiality to comply with any contract restrictions.

What makes ViaCord different from other private cord blood banks?  
Since 1993, ViaCord has been a leader in the cord blood banking industry.  Because of Viacord's commitment to research, we have a unique understanding of cord blood stem cells and the promise they represent for your family's future.

What does ViaCord's cord blood collection service include?
When you choose ViaCord you benefit from both high quality customer service and leading edge science. Our comprehensive service includes 24-hour on-call staff, private medical courier service to pick up and transport the cord blood unit, the industry's only FDA-approved cord blood collection bag, and state-of-the-art processing and storage. Learn more about ViaCord's comprehensive service.

How many families have banked samples with ViaCord?
To date, ViaCord has banked the cord blood of over 250,000 newborns.

How many samples from ViaCord and CHORI have been used for transplant? 
Together 225 units have been processed and released by ViaCord and CHORI for use in treatment. Click here to see the full transplant and infusion list.

Does the hospital need to provide any materials for collection?
No, ViaCord will supply you with a collection kit, which has everything you and your obstetrician or certified nurse midwife will need. Simply bring this kit with you when you go to the hospital for your delivery.

Will any hospital know how to perform the collection?
The collection process is simple and can be performed by any doctor, certified nurse or midwife, or other qualified medical professional. We will instruct them in the specifics of drawing blood from the umbilical cord, though it is very similar to other types of blood collection.

Does ViaCord use FDA-approved, collection bags?
ViaCord uses the only HEPARIN FREE, FDA-approved cord blood collection bag. Our Cell Sentinel collection bag is designed to maximize collection volume and minimize contamination. Ultimately, this promotes a high quality of collected stem cells for our customers.

How does cesarean section affect the collection process?
The collection process proceeds essentially the same way with a cesarean section as it would in a natural birth and only ViaCord can offer you an FDA-approved, preloaded cord blood collection bag for use in sterile C-sections.

How long will the cells remain viable, on average, in the kit after collection?
The cells in your cord blood sample must be processed and cryogenically preserved within 48 hours. Our expert medical courier makes sure that your cord blood sample is delivered to the ViaCord Processing Laboratory, our state-of-the-art processing and cryopreservation facility, on average, within 24 hours.

How does the cord blood get from my delivery room to ViaCord's Processing Laboratory? What is my involvement in the process?
After your baby's cord blood is collected, simply call ViaCord's customer service center to review packaging and labeling to ensure the integrity and identity of the cord blood unit prior to transport. ViaCord will arrange for a medical courier to pick the unit up from your hospital bedside and facilitate transportation to the ViaCord Processing Laboratory. Our state-of-the-art processing and cryopreservation facility is open seven days a week, weekends, and holidays. A ViaCord representative will call you to let you know that your baby's cord blood has arrived safely.

What is the process once ViaCord’s laboratory receives my child's cord blood unit?
Upon receipt of your baby's cord blood unit our lab will conduct tests to provide an assessment of the total volume collected and the concentration of stem cells, as well as check for bacterial and fungal contamination. In addition, the mother's blood samples will be tested for infectious diseases. After testing, your baby's cord blood unit is cryopreserved and stored at ≤ -170º Celsius.

Where and how is the cord blood stored, is it safe?
We store your cord blood unit at the ViaCord Processing Laboratory, our state-of-the-art processing and cryopreservation facility. This facility is FDA registered, AABB accredited, and CLIA certified. Learn more about ViaCord’s state-of-the-art processing and cryopreservation facility.

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