Sudden Need for Cord Blood

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Sibling that currently needs a transplant
Sibling that may need a future transplant
Other family member that may need a future transplant

(1) Sibling that currently needs a transplant: If an older sibling currently needs a transplant, most medical insurance carriers, even Medicaid, will cover the cost of collecting Cord Blood. (2) Sibling that may need a future transplant The Sibling Donor Cord Blood Program provides FREE Cord Blood banking to families that may need a transplant for a full sibling in the future. The Sibling Donor program only covers free cord blood banking; it does not cover the cost of the transplant itself. In order to be eligible for the Sibling Donor Cord Blood Program, the family must meet one of the following conditions:

You have a child with a condition that can be treated by Stem Cell transplant, and you are expecting a baby who will be a full sibling (same parents) to the affected child.
Prenatal diagnosis indicates that your unborn child is affected with a condition that can be treated by Stem Cell transplant.
Your unborn child is at greatly increased risk for a condition that can be treated by Stem Cell transplant.

From fall 2005 through summer 2007, families must contact this program by calling the private cord blood bank Viacord at the phone number 866-861-8435 (please note this is NOT their general customer number) and request the Sibling Connection Program. History: The Sibling Donor Cord Blood Program was originally established via a grant from the US federal agency the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Insititute (NHLBI) to Children’s Hospital of Oakland. The program had a website at www.siblingcordblood.org. However, the NHLBI funding expired in August 2005. The Sibling Donor Cord Blood Program has been guaranteed federal funding from the new national program of cord blood banking to be initiated under the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (see the web page on cord blood legislation). However, this new infusion of federal funding will not commence until 2007. On 30 May 2006, a press release issued by Viacell announced that they would provide banking services for the Sibling Donor program. (3) Other family member that may need a future transplant The program above will only provide free banking if a sibling of the baby needs a transplant. Many private cord blood banks will provide free banking if a parent of the baby, or any first or second degree relative, has a disease which may require a transplant. Throughout the world, there are numerous private banks which offer free or discounted banking to families that have a close relative with a case of medical need. In the USA, the following banks have official charity programs for cases of medical need. To qualify for a program, you will need a letter from your physician. If you qualify, you may want to shop programs, as they may differ in the diagnoses they accept and whether they waive long term storage fees.