FACT-accredited Cord Blood Banks have demonstrated compliance with the current FACT Cord Blood Standards. The accreditation process involves the submission of documentation to demonstrate compliance with the standards and an on-site inspection conducted by inspectors qualified by training and experience in cord blood banking. Accredited cord blood banks have met rigorous standards, as defined by the leading experts in the field and based on the latest knowledge of the field of cord blood banking.

Cord blood units are classified as one of two categories:

• Unrelated: Donated cord blood cells collected, stored, and available for use by anyone for whom the cells are an appropriate match and there is documented need.
• Related: Cord blood cells collected from one donor to be used by a specified individual or family, including the infant donor. These units are not available to the general public but are restricted to use as directed by the donor or donor’s guardians.