SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say privately banking cord blood is not cost-effective for most families.
The analysis, published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, determined private banking costs an additional $1,374,246 per life-year gained.
The researchers conclude paying fees to store the blood collected from the umbilical cord after the baby's birth was advisable only for families at high risk of needing stem cell treatment.
"While there are plausible medical advantages of umbilical cord blood stem cells, many of these benefits are primarily theoretical at this point," study co-author Dr. Aaron Caughey of the University of California, San Francisco, said in a statement.
"Expectant parents need to understand the true likelihood of their family benefiting from private cord blood banking in order to make an informed decision about this expensive process."
Members of the American Academy of Pediatrics have been encouraging parents to donate the cord blood to public banks that make it available to anyone needing treatment, or for research purposes.
Storing it as so-called "biological insurance" is not, the members say, supported by current scientific data. However, the AAP does encourage private cord blood banking if a full sibling in the family has a medical condition that potentially could benefit from cord blood transplantation.
