What is the difference between private and public stem cell banks?
Having stem cells stored by a private company is subject to costs, whereas health insurance companies usually cover the costs of donating cord blood to a public stem cell bank. However, the stem cells in a public stem cell bank are stored anonymously and are in part also used for research purposes. With this kind of donation, you lose your entitlement to use your own stem cells. If your donated cord blood has not yet been used elsewhere, it is theoretically also possible to get your own cells back from the public banks. However, with private storage the cells remain safely in your possession, and you can use them whenever needed.
