In a statement issued, the Association of Family Cord Blood Banks (AFCBB) expressed support for updated recommendations on cord blood banking put forward by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
The ACOG opinion, published in the February 2008 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, recognizes that umbilical cord blood offers distinct advantages over bone marrow or peripheral blood when used in stem cell transplantation and that healthcare professionals should provide expectant parents balanced and accurate information on both family and public cord blood banking options when discussing the topic.
Providing fair and balanced information on cord blood banking options is consistent with the principle of informed choice first issued by the Institute of Medicine (IoM) in 2005. This tenet acknowledges the need for every expectant mother to receive fair and balanced education prior to labor and delivery so that she can make an informed choice about her available options: preserve the cord blood stem cells for future family use, donate the cells for public use or research, or discard them.
"We applaud ACOG's recommendation that expectant parents be provided balanced and accurate information on both public and family banking options," said Charles Sims, M.D., chairman of the AFCBB. "The member banks of the AFCBB are committed to supporting physicians in educating parents, especially in states where legislation has been passed to encourage comprehensive, up-to-date education."
The AFCBB is committed to serving as a resource and clearinghouse for information on cord blood stem cells and banking options and encourages expectant parents to consider visiting the following Web sites:
- Association of Family Cord Blood Banks
- National Marrow Donor Program
- Parents Guide to Cord Blood Foundation
About the AFCBB
The Association of Family Cord Blood Banks (AFCBB) is an organization representing the family (private) cord blood banking industry and serves as the voice and advocate in matters of public policy, regulation and in the development of standards by accrediting organizations. The association believes that the foundation of public and private cord blood banking rests upon education of both expectant parents and physicians and upon informed consent.
Association of Family Cord Blood Banks