The main argument for private banking is that the donor retains control of the sample. It is a once-only opportunity. Other important reasons for private/family banking are:
One of the key advantages of the donors being able to use their own sample, should they need it, is that it is autologous, which means hardly any risks of rejection.
Privately-saved stem cells also have a 25% chance of being a perfect match and a 50% chance of providing a suitable match for a sibling. | | Transplant physicians prefer related stem cells because they cause fewer problems such as Graft vs Host disease. Family banked cord blood stem cells may be a suitable match and provide treatment options for parents, grandparents and cousins, as biological matches are more common between family members.
Families with banked stem cells may be the first to benefit from new therapies in the field of Regenerative Medicine, for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, spinal cord injury and brain damage. |
