What Americord does and who runs it

Americord is a private cord blood bank that collects and stores umbilical cord blood for families who want to preserve it. The company processes the blood sample after birth, tests it for viability and sterility, and keeps it frozen in liquid nitrogen for potential future medical use. Americord operates as a for-profit business, meaning families pay upfront collection and annual storage fees rather than donating to a public bank.

The company has been operating since 1992 and is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), which sets standards for how blood banks collect, process, and store samples. Accreditation means Americord meets federal requirements for sterility, labeling, record-keeping, and staff training. However, accreditation does not mean your stored sample will be useful for treatment — that depends on the condition being treated and whether the sample remains viable after thawing.

Key Takeaways

  • Americord collects cord blood at birth, processes it within 48 hours, and stores it indefinitely in liquid nitrogen for a collection fee plus annual storage costs.
  • The company is AABB-accredited, meaning it meets federal standards for collection and storage, but accreditation does not may provide the sample will be medically useful.
  • Your family owns the sample and can direct its use, unlike public banks where samples are donated and allocated by the bank.
  • Americord charges an initial collection and processing fee (typically several hundred dollars) and an annual storage fee (typically $100 to $300 per year), which you pay out of pocket.
  • The sample can only be used by your family members unless you pay an additional fee to make it available to unrelated patients through a registry.

How the collection and processing timeline works

When you enroll with Americord during pregnancy, the company sends you a collection kit to bring to the hospital or birth center. After your baby is born and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, a healthcare provider (usually a nurse or midwife) draws blood from the cord into the collection container. The entire process takes a few minutes and happens after the cord has been separated from the baby, so it does not affect your newborn.

Once collected, the kit is labeled with your baby's information and a unique identifier. You or a hospital staff member calls Americord to arrange courier pickup, usually within 24 hours of birth. The sample must reach Americord's laboratory within 48 hours of collection. Americord then tests the sample for cell count, viability, and contamination. If the sample meets their standards, it is cryopreserved (frozen in liquid nitrogen) and stored in a tank. The entire process from collection to storage typically takes one to two weeks.

If the sample does not meet processing standards — for example, if the cell count is too low or contamination is detected — Americord will notify you and may offer a refund of the collection fee. The company keeps detailed records of your sample's location, test results, and storage conditions, which you can request at any time.

What you pay and when

Americord's pricing has two parts: an initial collection and processing fee, and an annual storage fee. The collection fee covers the kit, courier pickup, laboratory testing, and initial cryopreservation. The annual storage fee covers the cost of maintaining the frozen sample in liquid nitrogen and keeping records. Both fees vary depending on the package you choose and any promotions Americord is running at the time you enroll.

You pay the collection fee upfront, usually before or shortly after birth. The annual storage fee is billed each year on the anniversary of your enrollment. If you stop paying the annual fee, Americord will typically give you a grace period (often 30 to 90 days) before discarding the sample. Some families set up automatic payments to avoid missing a important date. Unlike public cord blood banks, which are free because samples are donated, private banks like Americord charge families directly because the family retains ownership and can use the sample only for themselves or their relatives.

How your sample can be used

Your family owns the sample and can direct its use. If a family member develops a condition that might benefit from cord blood stem cells — such as certain blood cancers, immune disorders, or metabolic diseases — you can request that Americord thaw and release the sample to a hospital or research facility. The medical team treating your family member will determine whether the sample is suitable for their condition and whether thawing and transplanting it is medically appropriate.

Cord blood is currently used in established treatments for blood cancers, certain immune deficiencies, and some inherited metabolic disorders. Many other potential uses — such as treatment for cerebral palsy, autism, or heart disease — are still in research phases and not yet standard medical practice. Before banking, you should understand that the sample may never be used, and if it is used, there is no may provide of success.

If you want to make your sample available to unrelated patients through a registry or research program, you can pay an additional fee to Americord to list it. This allows the sample to be used by someone outside your family if a match is found and the patient's medical team requests it. Without this option, the sample is reserved for your family only.

Americord's accreditation and quality standards

Americord holds accreditation from the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), which is a nonprofit organization that sets standards for blood banking in the United States. AABB accreditation means Americord has been inspected and meets federal requirements for facility design, equipment maintenance, staff qualifications, testing protocols, and record-keeping. The accreditation is renewed periodically through inspections and audits.

Accreditation is a meaningful indicator that Americord follows established safety and quality practices. However, it does not may provide that your specific sample will remain viable indefinitely or that it will be medically useful if needed. Cord blood samples can degrade over time, and viability depends on factors like the initial cell count, how well the sample was processed, and storage conditions. Americord tests samples before storage and may perform periodic viability checks, but the company cannot predict whether a sample will be usable 10, 20, or 30 years in the future.

Comparing Americord to public cord blood banks

The main difference between Americord and public cord blood banks is ownership and cost. With Americord, your family pays to store the sample and owns it — meaning you decide who can use it and when. With a public bank, you donate the sample for free, the bank owns it, and it can be used by anyone who matches it medically, including unrelated patients or researchers. Public banks do not charge families anything.

Public banks are typically located at major medical centers or run by nonprofit organizations. They prioritize samples with high cell counts and low contamination, so not all samples are accepted. Americord and other private banks accept a wider range of samples and may provide storage for your family's use. If you want your child's cord blood available only to your family and are willing to pay for storage, a private bank like Americord is the option. If you want to donate it for potential use by anyone who needs it and prefer not to pay, a public bank is the option.

What happens if Americord closes or you move

Private cord blood banks can close, merge, or change ownership. If Americord were to close, your sample would need to be transferred to another bank or discarded. Before enrolling, you can ask Americord about their business continuity plan — that is, what would happen to stored samples if the company faced financial difficulty or closure. Some private banks carry insurance or maintain contracts with other banks to may support samples are transferred if needed.

If you move to another state or country, your sample remains stored at Americord's facility unless you request a transfer. Transferring a sample between banks is possible but involves additional costs and risks, including the possibility that the sample will not survive the thawing and re-freezing process. Before moving, contact Americord to discuss your options and any fees involved in transferring your sample to a bank closer to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Americord sample for myself, or only for my children?

You can use the sample for yourself or any blood relative, including siblings, parents, or cousins, depending on the condition and medical suitability. The sample is owned by your family, not restricted to your children. However, the likelihood that you will need it is lower for adults than for children, since most current cord blood treatments are used in pediatric cases.

What if I cannot afford the annual storage fee?

If you stop paying the annual fee, Americord will typically notify you and give you a grace period (usually 30 to 90 days) before the sample is discarded. Contact Americord directly if you are having financial difficulty — some banks offer payment plans or reduced fees in hardship situations. Once the sample is discarded, it cannot be recovered.

How long can cord blood be stored?

Cord blood can theoretically be stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen, as freezing halts cell aging. However, viability — whether the cells will function after thawing — is not may provide over decades. Americord and other banks do not make promises about how long a sample will remain usable. Some samples stored for 20+ years have been successfully used, but others may lose viability sooner.

Does my insurance cover Americord's fees?

Most health insurance plans do not cover private cord blood banking fees because it is considered an elective service, not a medical treatment. You would pay collection and storage fees out of pocket. Some employers offer cord blood banking as a voluntary benefit, which may provide a discount on Americord's fees. Check with your employer's benefits office to see if this option is available.

What is the difference between Americord and other private banks?

Americord is one of several AABB-accredited private cord blood banks in the United States. Other accredited banks include Cryo-Cell, ViaCord, and Cord:Use. Differences include pricing, processing methods, storage facility locations, and customer service. Before choosing a bank, compare fees, accreditation status, and reviews from other families. All accredited banks must meet the same federal standards, but customer experience and long-term reliability can vary.