As a cord blood donor, you can save the life of a person needing a blood transplant or provide blood for medical research. There are several steps you will need to take prior to the birth of your child in order to become a cord blood donor. First, discuss the decision with your doctor, and make sure the hospital where you plan to deliver is able to collect cord blood. You will need to verify you are eligible to donate cord blood, and most cord blood banks will require that you register or enroll in their program by the time you are 34 weeks pregnant. Most cord banks will send you a collection kit after you enroll, which will be used to collect and process your cord blood donation.
After you have discussed your decision to become a cord blood donor with your doctor, confirm that your place of delivery is able to collect cord blood donations, and ask if there is a fee. Most cord banks are affiliated with specific hospitals, so that might limit your options of hospitals or which cord blood bank to use for your donation. Some cord banks will accept mail-in donations rather than partnering with a hospital. Also, although most public cord banks will not charge you a fee for processing and storing the blood donation, some doctors and hospitals will charge you a collection fee.
In order to be a cord blood donor, you will have to meet the eligibility criteria. Most cord banks require that you be at least 18 years old, but some will allow a woman at least 16. Certain diseases, including HIV or AIDS, hepatitis B or C, most types of cancer, and sometimes diabetes will typically cause you to be ineligible. Also, if you have had an organ or tissue transplant you will generally not be allowed to donate. If you have had a sexually transmitted disease, tattoo, or body piercing within the past 12 months, you will usually need to be evaluated by the cord bank to determine if you are eligible to donate.
If you are eligible to become a cord blood donor, then you will need to register with a cord blood bank by the time you are 34 weeks into your pregnancy. Typically, registration is done via the website for the cord bank or by filling out a paper form and sending it in to the cord bank. After you have enrolled, many cord banks will send you a collection kit, which you will need to either give to your doctor or bring with you to the hospital when you are to deliver your baby. The collection kit will usually include educational materials and information about preparation procedures that you should read. The preparation procedures often consist of providing medical history, giving a blood sample, and signing a consent form.
When you are at the hospital to have your baby, remind your delivery team that you will be a cord blood donor. After the delivery of your baby, the doctor will clamp your umbilical cord, and within 15 minutes of giving birth, your cord blood will be collected in a sterile bag. The procedure only takes about five minutes and can be done whether you have a vaginal delivery or cesarean section. Since the cord blood is taken after you give birth, there is no risk to you or the baby, and the process is painless.
After your cord blood is collected, it is given an identification number to preserve confidentiality, and it will be sent to the cord blood bank within two days. At the cord bank, it will be tested for diseases and contamination. If it passes the tests and there are enough stem cells in the unit of blood, then it is stored in a liquid nitrogen freezer. Most cord banks will then list the identification number for your cord blood on a national registry to find a matching person who needs a blood transplant.
