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Trust us, we understand there are a lot of questions concerning umbilical cord blood banking and we want to ensure that you get straight and honest answers to your questions. That is why we have compiled a short list of some of the most common questions we are asked.
If you have any additional questions that are not answered here, please contact us. CorCell will respond to you personally, because it's important to us that you get all the right answers you need.
How is Cord Blood Used?
How is Cord Blood Transported, Processed and Stored?
Are There Any Risks?
How Much Does it Cost and Will My Insurance Cover Cord Blood Preservation?
Private vs Public Cord Blood Banking
Is Private Cord Blood Storage for the Right Choice for You?
Professional Resources
How is Cord Blood Used?
What diseases are commonly treated with umbilical cord blood?
Currently, cord blood is being used to treat malignant diseases such as Leukemia, Lymphoma, Neuroblastoma (an early childhood cancer that originates in the adrenal gland), and numerous other types of cancer. It is also being used to treat non-malignant diseases such as Aplastic Anemia (when your blood is deficient in healthy red blood cells), Thalassemia (a blood condition that interferes with hemoglobin production), Congenital Cytopenia (a blood cell deficiency), Hunter Syndrome (interferes with the body’s ability to break down a toxic complex carbohydrate), Osteopetrosis (bone abnormalities such as brittle bones), Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome (a rare congenital syndrome resulting in frequent infections), Sickle Cell Anemia (rapid breakdown of red blood cells so oxygen does not get to the body's organs), Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome (defects in the immune system that cause recurrent infections), and many others. While these are known diseases which cord blood is being used to treat, medical professionals are hopeful regarding the future treatment possibilities of umbilical cord blood stem cells. For a listing of both current and future applications, see Diseases Treated with Stem Cells.
What do I do if I need to access my baby's umbilical cord blood from storage?
Please be aware that not every private cord blood bank has the same procedures for accessing your baby's cord blood. However, if you are a CorCell customer, simply call 1.888.326.7235 and we will explain and manage the process of accessing the cord blood from storage.
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How is Cord Blood Transported, Processed and Stored?
How do I know whether or not my baby's blood is being stored properly?
It is important that your baby's blood is being stored in a bank that has a proven history and one whose specimens have been used repeatedly in successful transplant operations. It is vital that they engage in sound and ethical business practices and maintain all required regulatory licenses and certificates of accreditation. The FDA now regulates private cord blood banking. By selecting a facility that is also a Blood Center, you know they are required to follow all FDA regulations and good manufacturing practices (GMP) guidelines. For immediate response capabilities, they are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to receive and process cord blood specimens. Further, their separation protocols should be validated as a contamination-free, high yielding retrieval process and be a transplant physician-preferred stem cell processing method. All cord blood samples should be tested for bacterial contamination, total nucleated, CD34+ and viability cell counts. Further, the mother's blood should be tested for all infectious disease as required by the AABB, FACHT and state licensure. In addition storing the cord blood in a multi-compartment bag will provide for the potential of more than one use when expansion technology becomes commonplace.
Long term storage should be in liquid nitrogen at regulated temperatures and the liquid nitrogen containers should be equipped with a 24 hour monitored alarm device, internal and external to the storage facility, and include a backup system. The labeling of samples should include an identifier code, mother's name, date of storage, and assigned inventory number. Finally, written standard operating procedures should be in place, for the proper identification of samples, and for collection, processing, storage and transplantation.
Is the method of transportation important in getting the cord blood to the processing facility?
Yes, the transportation of your baby's umbilical cord blood to the processing and storage facility is a vital step of the process. Due to time and temperature sensitivity, it is vital that the cord blood is shipped by a medical courier who understands the need to preserve the integrity of your shipment and protect the collection from extreme temperatures. A medical courier such as CorCell's partner, AirNet can customize a transportation solution to meet your individual needs using coast-to-coast transport on their existing air network, next-flight-out via AirNet system flights, commercial airline, ground transportation, dedicated aircraft charter or any combination of options. Further, a medical courier has expertise in classification, packing requirements and documentation. It is important that your courier is trained to comply with the regulations of DOT, FAA, RSPA, ICAO and IATA. You should also verify that you courier is a member of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).
Will the cord blood thaw during transportation to a transplant center?
Cord blood specimens are shipped to the transplant facility in a dry cryo-shipper in which a significant layer of insulation is soaked and cooled in liquid nitrogen. This shipper can hold the temperature of liquid nitrogen of -196˚ C for up to five days, but are shipped to the transplant facility by the most timely transportation method available. Thus the samples are maintained in a deep frozen state throughout shipment. CorCell’s stem cell laboratory has shipped twenty-three (23) cord blood specimens using this method and each has arrived in a frozen state. Upon arrival the transplant facility follows its established and approved protocols for thawing and transplantation.
Are there different ways that private cord blood banks process and store the umbilical cord blood stem cells? Does the procedure really make a difference?
A larger number of stem cells will provide a better transplant. However, a high volume of blood does not always guarantee a high stem cell count. A collection of 40 cc’s can have a higher stem cell count than a 100-cc collection. In order to get a good yielding collection the procedure must be simple, safe and reliable for the healthcare provider to perform. The more steps involved the greater the chance of bacterial contamination, time taken away from patient care, or plain old mistakes or mishaps. A procedure that requires steps to add anticoagulant or changing syringes midstream can become not only contaminated but also a “manipulation nightmare.” The one-piece collection procedure needs to be simple. Wipe, insert needle, and collect into a closed-system bag. A closed-system bag provides the least chance of contamination. It makes sense. It’s the way the public FDA-regulated cord blood banks do it.
Each bag is housed in a metal sleeve that aids in the freezing and protection of your collection. Each collection is stored in a 25cc multiple compartment bag. Our processing facility is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to receive cord blood specimens and process each collection. Blood separation protocols have been validated as contamination-free, high yielding retrieval process and as a transplant physician-preferred stem cell processing method. All cord blood samples are tested for bacterial contamination, total nucleated, CD34+ and viability cell counts both before and after processing. Mother's blood is tested for all infectious disease as required by the FDA, AABB and state licensure. Cord blood stem cells are cryopreserved in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide, in a multiple compartment cryo-bag, and quarantined in vapor phase of liquid nitrogen while awaiting confirmation of infectious disease testing. Upon confirmation the unit is transferred to long term storage in liquid nitrogen at a regulated temperature. Liquid nitrogen containers are equipped with a 24 hour monitored alarm device, internal and external to the storage facility, and includes a backup system. Labeling of samples includes identifier code, mother's name, date of storage, and assigned inventory number. Written standard operating procedures are in place for the proper identification of samples, and for collection, processing, storage and transplantation.
Which tests are important? It is important to know the reason behind why the cord blood is tested. It is the transplant physician who needs to know the cord blood has been tested for infectious diseases, stem cell count, viability, etc. Why? The transplant physician will need to know that information before transplanting cord blood into an ill patient. HLA-typing is another story. If you need the stem cells for a related transplant, you can have the baby's blood HLA-typed then. Until that time, let your collection remain protected, anonymous and untyped. This will only add to the collection’s security.
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Are There Any Risks?
Is there any risk to the mother or baby in the procedure to save the umbilical cord blood?
No, there is absolutely no risk to the mother or the baby. After the birth of the child, the doctor will simply clamp and cut the baby’s umbilical cord. The blood remaining in the umbilical cord will then be harvested into the collection bag supplied in the CorCell collection kit. Because this is done after childbirth, it is entirely painless to the baby and the mother. Also, collection in no way interferes with the immediate post-partum bonding between mother and child. The total collection time is less than 5 minutes and is neither impeded or complicated by cesarean or natural childbirth.
Is there any risk to the cord blood if there is a power outage or system failure at the storage facility?
CorCell’s cord blood specimens are stored in liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen does not require an electrical system to keep it cold because the cooling is generated by liquid nitrogen alone. Many parents are afraid that if there is a system failure the cord blood specimens will thaw because they are under a false impression that liquid nitrogen requires electricity, like an air conditioning unit, for circulation through cooling coils to lower the temperature. This is NOT the case with CorCell's cord blood specimens. The liquid nitrogen maintains its temperature at -196˚ C without any additional system to maintain it at that temperature. As long as there is liquid nitrogen in the tank the temperature will not increase.
CorCell's storage tanks are monitored by a system which tracks the level of liquid nitrogen. Experiments with empty tanks demonstrate that, depending on the size of the tanks, the liquid nitrogen is sufficient for 6 to 13 days of cooling without any additional liquid nitrogen. Our tanks are constructed with a vacuum between the outer and inner walls and significant layers of insulation constructed to radiate heat away from the storage tank. This construction is why the temperature in the tank can be maintained at -196˚ C while the room temperature is 72˚ F. In simplistic terms, storage tanks are similar to a large thermos except they are constructed to be 10,000 times more efficient. CorCell's storage tanks are monitored on a 24/7 basis by this system and also by visual inspection, following established protocols that are approved by state regulators and the American Association of Blood Banks. If there is a system failure, such as a power outage, the temperature is not affected in any way (as explained above) and the monitoring system has a back up electrical system to support its monitoring function until electricity is restored.
Note that some cord blood banks use a different type of tank which requires a permanent electrical supply. The shape of these tanks require the constant operation of a sprinkler system for the liquid nitrogen in order to cool the upper portion of the tank to the same temperature as the lower portion. An electric pump siphons nitrogen from the bottom reservoir and sprinkles it from the top to all samples. If there is a power failure the liquid nitrogen is not able to be siphoned from the bottom and sprinkled over the cord blood specimens from the top. A loss in electrical power would mean that the liquid nitrogen cannot be siphoned from the bottom to cool cord blood specimens in the upper portion of the tank, raising the temperature of the cord blood specimens stored in this area.
Another disadvantage of that storage system is the robotic arm which places and removes cord blood specimens in the tank. The position of the specimen is tracked simply by rotating the interior specimen holders to a particular angle. This mechanism must work exactly at temperatures of -196˚ C for decades. If the exact angle is not found by the system the robotic arm will withdraw an incorrect sample.
CorCell uses the most reliable tracking system which requires manual handling of racks within the tanks. The technique has been used for many years in blood banks and bone marrow transplant units, is approved by the AABB and has a proven record of accuracy. Our storage system has higher associated costs but quality and reliability are always most important to us.
CorCell's cord blood specimens also have an additional safety measure as each specimen is enclosed in a stainless steel cassette, protecting the specimen from damage when new cord blood specimens are being added to the storage tank. And, unlike cryo-vials which are not protected by an outside cassette when placed in the tank, CorCell’s cord blood specimens are not vulnerable as the bags are not exposed.
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How Much Does it Cost and Will My Insurance Cover Cord Blood Preservation?
Why is there a wide difference in costs between the various cord blood banks?
There are several reasons for the differences in costs between various private cord blood banks. First, not all private cord blood banks include the costs for shipping in their pricing and if it is not included, you should plan on adding at least another $150+ to the price they are giving you. Secondly, not all private cord blood banks are licensed and accredited, and therefore there is no guarantee that the same level of service is being provided and no guarantee that the proper precautions are being taken with your cord blood. Finally, some private cord blood banks do not take as many steps to see to it that the blood is being collected, processed, then stored using the methods most preferred and found to be most usable by transplant physicians. In short, there is a variation in costs because there are variations in quality. Make sure you ask a private cord blood bank about their collection, processing, and storage procedures before making your decision. And don't forget to ask about any extra fees.
Why don't I receive a special discount from my insurance company?
Different insurance companies have different policies regarding their coverage of procedures which they consider to be preventative or "healthy lifestyles" and may not yet have included saving baby's umbilical cord blood. CorCell would like to continue to build relationships with additional insurance companies and is working to do so. Please give us the name of your insurance company so that we may contact them to make them aware of this wonderful resource.
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Private vs Public Cord Blood Banking
What is the difference between cord blood banking and stem cell research on human embryos?
The type of stem cell most often discussed in the news is an embryonic stem cell. During fertilization, a sperm cell unites with an egg cell, and begins to reproduce by dividing into different cells. These cells begin to arrange themselves into an outer ring of cells that enclose an inner cell mass called a blastocyst. Researchers have collected these inner cells and discovered that they can be made to develop into many types of specialized cells in the body.
These cells from the inner cell mass contain embryonic stem cells, which is an accurate term because they do come from the first stages of an embryo. But once these cells are removed from the inner cell mass, they are not able to develop into an infant.
Because embryonic stem cells have such great potential, they are now being looked at by the international medical community as a possible cure for many diseases. For example, one promising use is to replace the damaged or missing nerve cells in patients with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. It is important to understand the difference between embryonic stem cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells. Umbilical cord blood stem cells come from the unused blood leftover in the umbilical cord after the baby is born. They are only collected from fully developed humans.
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Is Private Cord Blood Storage for the Right Choice for You?
When researching the facts about saving baby's umbilical cord blood, I am coming across a lot of different information, how do I know which information is true?
Bottom line, make sure that claims are verified. Quotes and statements about collection, processing, and storage procedures should be backed up by facts and come from sources you know and trust. Always check for licensing, accreditation information, and years of experience.
What is the difference between a public umbilical cord blood bank and a private cord blood bank like CorCell?
Public cord blood banks have been established to further the research of the medical treatments of umbilical cord blood stem cells and for use in transplants of non-relatives. If you donate your baby's umbilical cord blood to a public blood bank, they do not provide a link between your baby and your baby's cord blood unit. If you wanted to access your own child’s blood in the future, you would not be assured access to that particular blood should you, your child, or another family member someday need it. When you save your baby's umbilical cord blood with a private cord blood bank, such as CorCell, no one else is entitled to access and utilize that cord blood without your permission.
My doctor didn't recommend saving my child's umbilical cord blood, why is that?
Because 10 years ago, doctors and scientists did not have the same knowledge
or vision of the benefits of stem cells taken from a baby's umbilical
cord at birth that they now have today. It was not so long ago that
all of the blood from the placenta and umbilical cord was simply discarded.
The benefits of stem cells, the same cells found in bone marrow and
the source of new blood cells, have already been proven to treat many
malignant and non-malignant diseases, but with new research, the new
treatment applications and potential of stem cells continues to grow
rapidly. Obstetricians and Gynecologists are being educated about the
uses of stem cells from umbilical cord blood as the research develops.
While some have already researched this to better understand the pros
and cons of saving baby's cord blood, not every doctor is at the same
level of education and understanding.
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Professional Resources
I am a healthcare professional and am interested in obtaining additional information about the possible uses of umbilical cord blood, where should I look?
Please visit the Healthcare
Providers section of our website where we provide the latest news,
external information links, and articles regarding umbilical cord blood
stem cells and saving baby's umbilical cord blood. We also have materials
that you can download and give to your patients for more information.
Or, if you prefer, contact one of our Medical
Specialties Representatives (1.888.326.7235) and they would be happy
to speak with you.
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