Promised Cures, Tainted Cells: How Cord Blood Banks Mislead Parents

Families pay thousands of dollars to store their children's stem cells in cord blood banks, hoping for future cures. However, an investigation by The New York Times reveals that the cells are rarely used and can be contaminated. Despite advances favoring adult stem cells, cord blood banks continue to mislead customers and doctors about the technology's effectiveness. Private banks charge high fees upfront and annually, with little evidence of the promised benefits. Withdrawn samples are often unusable due to low volume or contamination. Major banks like ViaCord and CBR have faced issues with contamination, leading to rejected samples in clinical trials. While some success stories exist, the overall utility of privately banked cord blood remains limited. Public banks have also struggled financially, with a decline in cord blood transplants due to more effective alternatives. The industry's marketing tactics, including payments to doctors for collecting samples, raise ethical concerns amid the lack of substantial medical benefits from cord blood storage.