Accreditation is an important factor when choosing a postsecondary education. A reputable school can help students receive financial aid, transfer credits, and find a job after graduation.

Cord blood banking facilities are accredited by a number of organizations, including the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapies (FACT) and AABB. In addition, some cord banks are specialized for private or family banking.

AABB Accreditation

AABB Accreditation is one of the most respected accreditations for cord blood banks worldwide. It is an indication that the cord blood bank has met strict standards for the collection, processing, testing and storage of the umbilical cord stem cells.

During an on-site assessment, specially trained AABB assessors will look at the organisation’s processes, procedures and policies to verify that they meet AABB Standards. If the assessors find that a facility is not complying with AABB’s Standards, they will take corrective actions to ensure compliance before accreditation is granted.

The AABB accreditation process is globally recognized and backed by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua). It provides facilities with third-party endorsement that can help them attract new patients, improve their reputation and mitigate costly outcomes.

FACT Accreditation

The Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) sets international standards and accredits cord blood banks and cell transplantation programs. These standards help ensure that patients receive the best possible care, whether they have bone marrow disease or umbilical cord blood disorders.

FACT Standards are developed by committees of experts who have a vested interest in the improvement and progress of cellular therapy and regenerative medicine. These standards trace the complete lifecycle of a cellular therapy product or cord blood unit, from collection to processing, storage, and administration.

The FACT Standards promote quality medical and laboratory practices that are essential for the successful use of cellular therapies. They also equip accredited organizations with the processes needed to expand services as new cellular therapies are introduced.

NMDP Accreditation

Cord for Life is a fully accredited NMDP-member public cord blood bank. This means that every cord blood unit stored is accessed through the NMDP registry and distributed to patients in need of a stem cell transplant.

NMDP Accreditation allows donors and patients to be confident that a cord blood unit is stored in a safe environment. It also helps ensure that the unit is delivered on time and to the right place for use.

In addition to ensuring that a cord blood unit is safely stored, the NMDP Accreditation process includes requirements for staff qualifications and policies and procedures. These are all essential for maintaining the high standards of care that NMDP expects.

FACT accreditation emphasizes cellular therapy quality improvement, using expert inspectors and a supportive peer review process. It focuses on requirements for multidisciplinary support, chains of identity and custody, adverse event and occurrence management, and a culture of quality that minimizes risks to cellular therapy products and cord blood units and to their intended patients.

IRB Accreditation

IRBs play an important role in clinical trials. They review research to ensure protection of human subjects.

IRB review is a group process that assures both in advance and by periodic review that appropriate steps are taken to protect the rights and welfare of humans participating as subjects in research. To accomplish this purpose, IRBs use a variety of tools to review research protocols and related materials (e.g., informed consent documents and investigator brochures) to ensure that subjects are effectively protected.

A recent study conducted by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) found that IRBs are a crucial part of effective human subject protection. This is because IRBs are responsible for assessing the risks associated with the research being conducted, weighing the likelihood of those risks occurring, and deciding if subjects can be adequately protected from those risks.