Cord Blood Banking: Cost, Public vs Private, and Is It Worth It?

Cord blood banking costs nothing if you donate to a public bank, while private family banks we checked listed about $885 to $1,685 for processing and the first year of storage, then roughly $185 to $300 every year after, as of October 2026.¹²³⁴ Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say routine private banking is not supported by the evidence and recommend public banking instead.⁵⁶ This page explains the costs, what the medical groups say, how to compare banks if you still want private storage, and what Securicord lists.

We have not used any cord blood bank. Prices and quality claims below come from each bank's own pages, checked October 2, 2026.

What is cord blood banking?

After birth, the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta contains blood-forming stem cells. These cells can be used in transplants for some people with leukemia, lymphoma, or certain inherited metabolic or immune disorders.¹ Without banking, the cord and placenta are usually thrown away.¹

HRSA describes four options for expectant parents:¹

What do ACOG and AAP say: is cord blood banking worth it?

ACOG's Committee Opinion No. 771, reaffirmed in 2026, makes these points:⁵

• The routine collection and storage of cord blood with a private bank is not supported by the available evidence.
• Public banking is the recommended way to obtain cord blood for transplantation, immune therapies, or other medically validated uses.
• Private banking may be considered when a family member has a malignant or genetic condition that could benefit from a cord blood transplant.
• Cord blood from a newborn cannot treat a genetic disease or cancer in that same child, because the stored blood contains the same genetic variant or premalignant cells.
• There is no current evidence supporting a child's own cord blood for regenerative medicine.

ACOG also cites an estimated lifetime chance of 1 in 400 to 1 in 2,500 that a person will develop a reason to use their own stored cord blood.⁵ It notes that private banks advertise cord blood as "biological insurance," and that AAP does not recommend routine storage for that purpose.⁵

AAP's policy statement, reaffirmed in April 2026, calls public banking the preferred method for transplant use, with a more limited role for private banking in families with a known illness that a cord blood transplant could treat.⁶ AAP adds that public banking is free, private banking is costly and not covered by insurance, and the stored unit may never be used.⁶ It also says accrediting body reviews have found private banks underused for treatment, less regulated for quality control, and more expensive for families than public banks.⁶

When private banking may make sense

• A parent or sibling has a condition that a cord blood transplant could treat.⁵⁶ In that case, ask about directed donation, which HRSA says is offered at little or no cost to eligible families.¹
• You cannot donate publicly because your hospital does not collect for a public bank, and you have weighed the cost against the low odds of use.¹⁵

How much does cord blood banking cost?

The table shows prices as listed on each bank's site on October 2, 2026. Banks run frequent promotions, so the price you see may differ.

We could not read a fixed itemized CBR price from its interactive enrollment page, so confirm it there. CBR also states it may adjust storage rates over time.⁷

Costs that are easy to miss

• Annual storage for years. At $185 to $300 a year, 18 years of annual storage adds up to roughly $3,330 to $5,400 on top of processing, based on the listed annual fees.⁴²
• Your provider's collection fee. CBR notes that your healthcare provider may charge a fee to collect the sample.⁷
• Rate increases. Cryo-Cell says its storage fee may increase up to the then-current rate for new clients, and CBR says it may adjust rates.³⁷
• Add-ons. Some banks sell extras such as cord tissue storage or genetic screening. CBR lists an optional genetic screening test at $395.⁷
• Insurance. AAP says private banking is not covered by insurance.⁶

How to choose a cord blood bank (if you decide to bank privately)

There is no evidence-based "best" private bank, so compare on criteria that ACOG and AAP highlight:

1. Accreditation and regulation. ACOG says patients should know which quality control and regulatory organizations oversee the bank, and AAP says all programs should comply with FACT or equivalent accreditation standards.⁵⁶ Ask for current accreditation certificates.
2. FDA registration. ACOG notes that both private and public banks must register with the FDA and follow tissue-handling rules.⁵
3. Total cost over 18 years or more, not just the first-year promotion.
4. Rate increase terms and what happens if you stop paying.
5. Financial conflicts. ACOG and AAP both say clinicians with a financial interest in private banking should disclose it.⁵⁶
6. Collection limits. ACOG says at least 40 mL is needed, and the bank will discard a sample that is not sterile or not large enough.⁵

What each bank states about quality

• Securicord says its lab is AABB accredited, FDA registered, and an active participant in the CAP proficiency testing program.⁸
• ViaCord says it stores samples at an FDA registered, CLIA certified, AABB accredited lab, and that it is part of Revvity.⁴
• CBR says it has preserved more than 1,000,000 cord blood and cord tissue samples and maintains standards for numerous licenses and accreditations.⁷
• Cryo-Cell's cost page did not list accreditation details, so ask the company directly.³

Securicord: what it lists

Securicord markets "lab-direct pricing" and a Families in Need Initiative that it says offers up to 50% off market rates.⁸ On October 2, 2026, its enrollment page showed premium cord blood processing at $625 (listed at $1,250), cord blood plus cord tissue at $975 (listed at $1,950), and $300 for annual storage, with multi-year and lifetime prepaid options.² Shipping showed as $0, and the site lists free shipping of the kit in 1 to 2 business days.²⁸

Securicord says most parents order the kit at least 2 months before the due date, and that it can arrange an emergency kit if delivery is within 72 hours.⁸ Its site states its laboratory is AABB accredited, FDA registered, and participates in CAP proficiency testing.⁸

Securicord's site also describes uses of cord blood and cord tissue in current treatments and clinical trials.⁸ Keep ACOG's position in mind: there is no current evidence supporting a child's own cord blood for regenerative medicine, and such uses should only happen within approved research protocols.⁵

How to donate cord blood to a public bank

1. Ask your delivery hospital early in pregnancy whether it collects for a public cord blood bank. HRSA says only certain hospitals can.¹
2. If it does, complete consent before labor. AAP says written permission should be obtained before active labor.⁶
3. Know that collection is not guaranteed. ACOG notes labor events or the health of the mother or baby can prevent adequate collection.⁵

ACOG encourages families of all ethnicities and races to consider public donation, because minority populations are underrepresented in cord blood banks.⁵

Cord blood decisions and your prenatal plan

Cord blood choices come late in pregnancy. Some of the most protective steps come much earlier. CDC recommends 400 mcg of folic acid daily for anyone who could become pregnant, and USPSTF recommends starting at least one month before conception to help prevent neural tube defects.⁹¹⁰ See folic acid before pregnancy, how much folic acid for pregnancy, and our guide to the best prenatal vitamins.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Doses and needs differ from person to person, so talk with your clinician or pharmacist about your situation. Read our editorial policy and medical disclaimer.