Cryobanks International | What is Cord Blood?

Step 1

Contact Cryobanks International to enroll in the public or private storage program. You can download the forms at various points on this site.

Step 2

Complete the donation or private storage form, get your doctor's signatures where needed, and return this to Cryobanks. For donations, this information must be received by us by your 34th week.

Step 3

Once we receive the completed forms, we review them and will contact you if more information is needed. For donations, if your forms are approved, Cryobanks will send you a Cord Blood Collection Kit. For storages, a kit will be sent once payment is made and forms received.

Step 4

Place your collection kit with your overnight bag, and bring it with you to the hospital when you go into labor. Remind your husband to bring it, as he'll be totally looney.

Step 5

When you go into labor, have a family member call Cryobanks International to notify us. Our toll-free number is 800-869-8608.

Step 6

After your baby is delivered your doctor will collect the cord blood, placing a unique barcode on the bag to ensure proper identification. Volume collected is the key. Make sure the doctor gets every drop!

Step 7

Once the cord blood is collected, notify Cryobanks, any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we will send our courier service to pick up the cord blood.

Step 8

Once your baby's cord blood has arrived, our laboratory technologists will carefully review the unit and necessary paperwork.

Step 9

Next, the technologist will place a second label on your cord blood bag.

Step 10

The cord blood is then processed to FDA and AABB standards, separating the different cell types into layers, so that the stem cell layer can be removed and stored.

Step 11

The stem cells are transferred into a special bag ready to be cryo-preserved.

Step 12

The stem cells are then placed in a special freezer that controls the rate of freezing until the cells are at the right temperature to be permanently stored.