Choices in Cord Blood Banking: Factors Influencing Parental Decision Making

Choices in Cord Blood Banking: Factors Influencing Parental Decision Making

Cord blood banking is increasingly being used to improve and save lives. Stem cells derived from umbilical blood have been used in more than 14,000 transplants worldwide to treat a wide range of blood diseases, genetic and metabolic disorders, immunodeficiencies and various forms of cancer. However, many expectant parents still do not fully understand the significance of cord blood storage. A study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine shows that a third of expectant parents are unaware of the option to preserve cord blood. Of the two-thirds who have some knowledge, 74% describe themselves as “minimally informed.”

Part 1 of this market report used proprietary data-derivation techniques to analyze conditions of the Cord Blood Banking Industry. Part 2 of this report used an end-user survey of expectant parents to identify and analyze the factors involved in the decision to privately store, publicly donate, or discard cord blood at birth. More than 1,200 expectation parents answered the detailed survey. The survey initially focused on U.S. respondents, but due to international interest was expanded to include respondents from Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and other regions as well.

Key findings of the report includes:

* Rates of awareness by gender, income, geographic location, and education
* Sources through which expectant parents learn of cord blood preservation
* Factors influencing private vs. public storage of cord blood
* Price sensitivity and quality expectations
* Approaches for communicating with expectant parents
* Key factors influencing the decision to store cord blood
* Parental responsiveness to health statistics
* Trends in cord blood banking
* Competitive analysis of the cord blood banking industry
* And Much More…

PART 1: CORD BLOOD BANKING, INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

I. Abstract

II. Cord Blood Stem Cells

A. Fetal Cord Blood Characteristics
B. Existing Treatments
C. Future Applications

III. Cord Blood Banking Industry

A. History

B. Private vs. Public Cord Blood Banks

1. U.S. Public Banks

a. Overview
b. Number of Public Banks
c. Geographic Distribution

2. U.S. Private Banks

a. Overview
b. Number of U.S. Private Banks
c. Geographic Distribution

3. Programs for Families with Medical Need

4. International Banks

a. Overview
b. Number Private Cord Blood Banks by International Region


IV. Market Characterization

A. List of U.S. Private Cord Blood Banks

B. List of U.S. Public Cord Blood Banks

C. U.S. Mail-In Donation Cord Blood Banks

D. Breakdown of Canadian Cord Blood Banks – Public vs. Private / AABB Accredited vs. Non-Accredited

E. International Cord Blood Banks

1. Mexican Cord Blood Banks

2. South/Central American Cord Blood Banks

3. United Kingdom Cord Blood Banks

4. European Cord Blood Banks

5. Middle Eastern Cord Blood Banks

6. Indian Cord Blood Banks

7. Asian Cord Blood Banks

8. Australian / New Zealand Cord Blood Banks

9. African Cord Blood Banks

F. List of International Public Cord Blood Banks (by Country)

G. Worldwide List of AABB Accredited Cord Blood Facilities


V. U.S. Cord Blood Banking Legislation

A. U.S. State

B. U.S. Federal

1. Institute of Medicine Recommendations Study

a. Overview
b. Key Recommendations
c. IOM Study Shapes National Public Health Policy

2. Presidential Executive Order Expanding Approved Stem Cell Lines in Ethically Responsible Ways

a. Background
b. The Order

3. The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005

a. Background
b. Current Status of the Act


VI. International Analysis – Trends, Policies and Industry Conditions, by Country

A. NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA

B. ASIA

C. INDIA

D. AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

E. EUROPE


VII. Cost Analysis: Cord Blood Banking

A. Reasons for Variation in Cord Blood Pricing

1. Pricing Flexibility
2. Variable Services
3. Fee Breakdown Differences

B. Range of Pricing for U.S. Cord Blood Companies (1-100th percentiles)

1. U.S. Cord Blood Banking Price Range (1-100th%)
2. Lowest U.S. Pricing
3. Highest U.S. Pricing
4. Average U.S. Cord Blood Costs (25-75th percentiles)
5. Median Cost of U.S. Storage (50% percentile)

C. Range of Pricing for Canadian Cord Blood Companies (1-100th percentiles)

1. Canadian Cord Blood Banking Price Range (1-100th%)
2. Lowest Canadian Pricing
3. Highest Canadian. Pricing
4. Average Canadian. Cord Blood Costs (25-75th percentiles)
5. Median Cost of Canadian Storage (50% percentile)


VIII. Comparative Analysis of Quality Variables

A. Technical Variables

1. Vapor-Phase Storage vs. Liquid-Phase Storage
2. Cryo-bags vs. Cryo-vials
3. Pentastarch vs. Hetastarch
4. Computer Controlled vs. Manual Rate Freezing
5. Whole Sample vs. Volume Reduction
6. High-Control vs. Low-Control Aseptic Processing

B. Corporate Variables

1. Corporate Stability
2. Scientific Expertise


PART 2: EXPECTANT PARENTS, SURVEY RESULTS & FINDINGS

I. Survey Overview

A. Survey Population

B. Characterization of Market Survey Respondents

1. Geographic Distribution of Market Survey Respondents
2. Household Income Distribution of Survey Respondents

a. All Respondents
b. U.S. Respondents

3. Respondent Breakdown by Race
4. Respondent Breakdown by Gender
5. Respondent Breakdown by Level of Education
6. Respondent Breakdown by Location (City vs. Suburban vs. Rural)
7. Regional Breakdown of U.S. Respondents
8. Demographic Conclusions


II. Rates of Awareness: Unaware / Minimally Informed / Moderately Informed / Knowledgeable

A. Overall
B. By Gender
C. By Household Income

1. All Respondents
2. U.S. Respondents

D. By Education
E. By Race
F. By Geographic Location

1. Region within U.S.
2. Location (City vs. Suburban vs. Rural)

G. By Number of Existing Children within Family (e.g. Birth Order)


III. Factors Influencing Awareness

A. Personal Exposure: Relative Impact of Family, Co-Workers, Peers

B. Informational Sources: Information Sites, Books Medical Pamphlets, Government Sources

C. Medical Exposure: General Doctors, Ob / Gyn, Midwifes, Nurse, Other

D. Promotional Sources: Internet Advertisements, Print Advertisements, Radio, TV, Other


IV. Factors Influencing Parental Decision-Making

A. Factors Influencing the Decision Not to Store Cord Blood

1. Knowledge Level
2. Price Sensitivity
3. Safety Concerns
4. Lack of Access
5. Misconceptions

B. Factors Influencing the Decision for Private vs. Public Storage of Cord Blood

1. Ethical Beliefs
2. Gender
3. Total Household Income
4. Level of Education (Highest Level Achieved by at Least One Parent)
5. Race
6. Geographic Location

a. Region within U.S.
b. City vs. Suburban vs. Rural

7. Access to Reliable Healthcare
8. Number of Existing Children within Family (Birth Order)
9. Source of Knowledge
10. Perceived Support of Medical Staff
11. Family Medical History

C. International Analysis of Cord Blood Banking Perceptions (Region-by-Region)


V. Parental Responsiveness to Health Statistics

A. Overview
B. Health Statistics
C. Health Statistic Conclusions


VI. Parental Expectations

A. Quality of Services
B. Willingness to Educate/Inform
C. Reputability of Organization


VII. Trends

A. Rates of Cord Blood Storage (units per year)
B. Rates of Parental Awareness
C. Cord Blood Research Publication Rates
D. Cord Blood Research Funding Levels
E. Cord Blood Patent Breakdown
F. Rates of Cord Blood Research Product Development


VIII. Informative Websites: Online Sources Utilized by Expectant Parents

A. Overview of Websites

1. Information Only
2. Commercial Affiliation

B. Dominant Regional Websites (International Analysis)

C. Most Important Criteria Used to Identify Sites to Inform Decision-Making

D. Underlying Reasons for Visiting Online Resources


IX. Conclusions

A. Traits of a “Model Customer”

1. “Model Customer” for a Private Cord Blood Bank
2. “Model Customer” for a Public Cord Blood Bank

B. Ideal Price Range
C. Approaches for Communicating with Expectant Parents