for hospitals & NICUs
Eight questions to ask any milk bank partner.
Donor milk suppliers are not all held to the same standard, and the differences matter most for the smallest patients. Here is a checklist your team can use with any partner, including us.
the eight questions
What to ask before you sign with any milk bank.
A trustworthy partner should be able to answer all eight without hesitating. The Milk Bank can.
HMBANA accreditation
The industry standard for nonprofit milk banking, audited rather than self-declared.
Ask: Are you HMBANA accredited, and when were you last audited?FDA registration
Federal oversight of handling and processing, beyond voluntary standards.
Ask: Is your processing facility FDA registered?Third-party microbiological testing
Every batch cleared for zero bacterial growth by an independent lab, not just in-house.
Ask: Who tests your milk, and what happens to a batch that fails?Holder pasteurization
Retains far more of the milk's immune activity than harsher shelf-stable processing.
Ask: What pasteurization method do you use, and what bioactivity is retained?A 100% volunteer donor pool
Unpaid donors are linked to safer health screening than paid-donor models.
Ask: Are your donors volunteers, and are they medically screened?No minimum orders
No forced volume minimums that don't fit your census. Flexibility signals mission alignment.
Ask: Do you require minimum orders or long-term volume commitments?Patient Continuum of Care
Often patient care doesn’t end at discharge. An outpatient program coupled with a medical relief fund can provide a safety net to your community. A true commitment to infant health and a patient-first sign.
Ask: What happens when a family can't afford donor milk?Regional community investment
A nonprofit responsive to local needs builds a stronger foundation than a distant distributor.
Ask: Are you a nonprofit, and how do you invest in the community you serve?WHY WE HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCES
Your milk bank partner is a patient safety decision.
When a hospital chooses a milk bank on the full set of criteria, fragile infants are better protected, wherever that milk comes from. As it happens, The Milk Bank meets every point above, which is exactly why we're comfortable being completely transparent. In fact, we’d love to host you to a tour of our facility!
Hold every supplier to this standard, including us.
put us to the test
Bring this checklist to a conversation with our hospital team.
We'll answer every question on it, and any additional ones you may have. We can’t wait to get to know you and learn how we can help!