Americord
Founded in 2008, Americord Registry is a family-owned private cord blood bank. It is a private bank that offers cord blood, cord tissue, placental tissue, and exosome banking.
Americord History and Leadership
Family-owned and operated, Americord is led by CEO Martin Smithmyer and Medical Director Dr. Robert Dracker.
Fast Facts
Storage Volume: The bank claims to store thousands of stem cell samples for families.
Clinical Use: Americord does not cite the number of transplants they’ve released units for, they do state their record is 100% engraftment.
Collection, Transport, and Storage
Collection and Storage
Americord uses the standard anticoagulant CPD as recommended by the FDA. Their collection kit can be used for the collection of cord blood, cord tissue, placental tissue, and exosomes. A medical courier collects the kit after birth and transports the container to the lab.
Processing
Americord uses a modified version of the popular HES processing method called “Cord Blood 2.0.” (Read about HES and other processing methods here.) Americord says the changes in Cord Blood 2.0 allow it to extract more stem cells than traditional methods, but this claim has not been independently verified. The CryoMaxx Processing method is used for manual processing for cord blood stem cells and minimal manipulation methods.
Americord is one of the few private cord blood banks to offer a placental tissue and exosome banking service. It says placental tissue could be a possible benefit for mothers in the future.
Storage Bag
Americord cryopreserves cord blood in a 5-chamber bag to allow for future multiple treatment opportunities.
Pricing
Advertised prices are subject to change and may not reflect current promotional offers or discounts. Annual storage fees are not fixed and subject to change.
Cord blood processing and storage (1 year of storage and testing included) — $798
Annual cord blood storage – $199
Cord blood and cord tissue processing and storage — $1698
Annual cord blood and tissue storage – $398
Adding placental tissue and exosome banking may increase the price up to $3500
20-year prepaid long-term cord blood storage plan $3500
Licensure and Accreditations
Americord holds multiple accreditations and licenses that ensure compliance with industry standards and quality protocols.
FDA-registered (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
AABB-accredited (American Association of Blood Banks)
CLIA-certified (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)
Currently, Americord uses at least one lab that is accredited by the AABB and CLIA-certified.
State Licensure: Americord holds specific licenses required by the states of California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York to operate within those jurisdictions.
Contact Information
Corporate Address:
139 Fulton St,
Suite 707
New York NY 10038
Lab Address:
68 Veronica Ave, Unit #10
Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone Number:
Toll-free: 866–503–6005
Email: services@americordblood.com
