Learning about the self-repairing power of cord blood stem cells, there are many expecting parents who decide upon umbilical cord blood banking and bear the cost for it.  After all, thinking about the health and safety of the baby, before his or her arrival is the responsibility of an expecting parent.

And undoubtedly, they choose the best cord blood banking company.

In fact, while choosing the best, the parents-to-be would have to consider the reasons for making it the best. Out of many things like being accredited, and using the most innovative technology for processing the cord blood stem cells, the best cord blood banks choose biologically safe methods from collection to transportation, processing and retrieval.

Read this engaging article to know how:

Safe Collection Process

The baby may be born vaginally or via an emergency C – section, once the baby and the placenta is delivered, the cord is disinfected and the vein is punctured to clamp and cut it a few inches apart. Then the caregiver inserts a sterile needle and collects the blood left behind in the umbilical cord and the placenta in a sterile collection bag. This bag, in fact, is kept is safe condition inside an x-ray free certified collection kit box, which again filled with anti-coagulant, thus preventing the blood from clotting, before it reaches the laboratory. 

Safely Designed Transportation Container

Basically, the collection kit box is coated with hard plastic, and has vacuum insulation in it. It is designed in this way, so that temperature is properly maintained and that the temperature is absolutely under control, when the sample cord blood unit is getting transported to the lab or the transplant center, even during harsh weather conditions. 

Biologically Safe Processing Labs

The baby’s cord blood and tissue are processed in a biologically safe, clean environment and well-equipped labs. 

Safe Transportation Facility

The best cord blood banking company takes the complete responsibility to deliver the sample in time and in good condition at the transplant centre for final usage. In fact, the logistic partners with its best-controlled measures ensure absolutely safe and timely delivery of the sample unit. In case the stem cells are found to have been damaged during transportation from storage facility to the transplant centre, we either offer an alternate matching sample or a compensation. 

Safe and Advanced Storage Methods

For future testing, the cord blood is stored in a 25ml multi compartment cryobag with integral segments. In fact, some private cord blood banks keep the baby’s stem cells in frozen state (-190 Degrees), so that, the stem cells can be preserved anywhere between 21 to 75 years of a baby’s life.  

To Conclude

As compared to the other cord blood banks, who give no assurance on the maintenance or who give no surety of safety or timely transportation of the sample unit to the transplantation center, Cordlife India, the largest network of private cord blood bank in Asia, is safe.

All that the clients need to do is pay a nominal price to keep their baby’s cord unit safe with Cordlife for 21yrs or more and enjoy exclusive ownership and accessibility throughout the tenure¬ and retrieve it when there is need for transplantation. 

The post How Do You Know That A Cord Blood Bank Is Safe? appeared first on Stem Cell Banking Guide and Pregnancy Tips For New Parents.

Your baby’s cord blood banking is one of the most important decisions for you and your baby’s life. And, you should entrust upon a bank which is not just financially stable to take care of your baby’s stem cells for a long period of time, but a bank that also uses modern technologies in which there is absolutely no possibility of manual inaccuracy, and can recover the highest possible stem cells while processing the cord blood before it is preserved. 

Reputed cord blood banks use exclusively patented technologies. And The Use Of Modern and Patented Technologies Has Several Benefits:

Internationally Accredited Labs

Accreditation means that the labs of cord blood banks comply with safety standards, medical protocols and operational efficiency while processing the cord blood stem cells. In fact, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved and cGMP and cGTP compliant systems ensure that your baby umbilical cord blood is processed consistently, in a biologically safe environment and that the processing takes place with the highest precision. Plus, the technologies meet the international health, safety and environmental requirements by complying with the quality standards of AABB and FACT – NETCORD.

Automated Technology

By using automated technology, the most reputed cord blood banks have raised the standards of the cord blood processing. These systems are specially designed to process the stem cells and have the complete solution with device, bag set and other accessories for separation of the stem cells and meticulous collection of all the fractions of the stem cells.  

Integrated Quality Control and Efficient Reading

This indicates that these methods have automated medical devices,  functionally closed and integrated processing unit that’s sure to capture the data with quality assurance and compliance. These systems, indeed, have the software to track and read the stem cells effeciently. In this way, these technologies are consistently processing the cord blood sample units and reducing manual error.  

Highest Recovery

Since the system enables the tracking data of each cord blood sample unit, the advantage is 97.3% more stem cells are recovered, as compared to the traditional processing unit. Additionally, higher recovery of stem cells from your baby’s umbilical cord blood  have  more reliable potency and better engraftable fraction after a transplant.

Safe and Highly Sterile

Since every sample gets processed in a closed processing unit, every unit gets carefully monitored and traced through the process. It might take only 30 minutes to process cord blood, but each unit is processed through state-of-art technology with extreme care, safety and sterility.

Unique

As this prevents samples mix-ups and cross-contamination of your baby’s precious cord blood unit

To Conclude

In fact, Cordlife uses FDA approved automated, functionally closed, and sterile AXP®II system for processing cord blood. So, as to-be-parents, before you zero down on the cord blood bank you trust, we tell you why Cordlife, a brand known for its premium-ness should be your first and only choice.

The post Why Do Cord Blood Banks Use Advanced Technology To Process Stem Cells? appeared first on Stem Cell Banking Guide and Pregnancy Tips For New Parents.

Internationally accepted and recognized accreditations are important for a cord blood bank. Accreditations certify that the blood bank has been appraised by authorized bodies for competency, credibility, operational efficiency, and quality management of processing and cryopreservation protocols to ensure the safety of the umbilical cord blood stem cells that are being preserved. Accreditations are quality checks to maintain standards.

In 2007, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) developed standards and guidelines for stem cell research and cord blood banking in India. These guidelines are based on the standards issued by the American Association of Blood Banks, or AABB, which is considered the standard for cord blood banking globally.

Central Drugs Control Standard Organization (CDSCO) under the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is responsible for issuing licenses to cord blood banks in India. DCGI follows the guidelines developed by the ICMR and DBT, in agreement with AABB standards, to issue licenses to cord blood banks in India.

Therefore, it is critical to ensure that the cord blood bank of your choice, where you plan to preserve your baby’s cord blood, is listed under the DCGI. The government can crackdown on unlicensed cord blood banks anytime and you may lose valuable cord blood forever. 

Why the AABB Accreditation is Important?

The AABB accreditation is designed to improve the quality and safety of baby stem cell collection and baby stem cell storage. The AABB ensures safety in the collection, testing, processing, and preserving of umbilical cord blood. Once accredited, the establishment goes through the accreditation process every two years.

• The AABB is an international voluntary non-profit organization.
• The AABB has been setting standards for public and private cord blood banks for over 20 years.
• The accreditation involves meticulous evaluation of the cord blood bank’s policies, processes, and procedures.
• The AABB lists requirements for maternal screening and testing.
• It requires checks for proper processing, storage, and patient outcomes.
• Accreditations may be granted to a facility for several different activities including processing, testing, and storage.
• Accreditations can be also received for following proper donor testing protocols.
• The AABB accreditation follows a risk-solving approach and doesn’t merely depend on a checklist.
• The AABB provides customized technical assistance to the cord blood bank during the accreditation process for smooth evaluation.
• The AABB’s strict verification process focuses on minimizing any risk or health hazard to the donors and transplant patients.
• The AABB standards are revised every two years by eminent stem cell transplant physicians for the accuracy of the process.

Guidelines for Cord Blood Banks in India

In India, there is a separate guideline for cord blood banks that complies with the AABB standards. Here, a cord blood bank needs a license to preserve and distribute cord blood. The guidelines outline the following:

• The collection, testing, storage, and release requirements for umbilical cord blood.
• The specific building and room requirements. 
• The specific measures to minimize the risk of contamination from external factors.
• Mandatory screening requirements for certain infections including hepatitis, syphilis, and HIV.
• The regulation also requires the cord blood unit to test for fungal and bacterial contamination.

To Conclude

Cordlife has been both nationally and internationally accredited. So, As a parent, before select a cord blood bank of your choice that has received certain accreditations, we tell you why Cordlife, a brand known for its premium-ness should be your first and only choice.

The post Why are Accreditations Important for a Cord Blood Bank? appeared first on Stem Cell Banking Guide and Pregnancy Tips For New Parents.

Cord blood banking can be a life-saving decision for your child and the family. When making this decision you need to be sure about all the pros and cons. Unfortunately, there are lots of misconceptions surrounding stem cell banking. Some of them are:

Misconception: Stem Cell Therapy is Still in the Experimental Phase

Fact: Stem cell therapy is no longer in the experimental phase. More than 30,000 umbilical cord blood stem cells transplants have been done worldwide. Umbilical cord blood is an accepted source of stem cells for a blood transplant patient. Umbilical cord blood is frequently being used to treat blood-related cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell diseases. It is also being used to treat inherited genetic disorders, bone marrow disorders and other immune-related diseases.

Misconception: Cord blood Is Not a Preferred Source of Stem Cells For Transplants

Fact: Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. Newborn stem cell banking can help the family of the baby access cord blood more easily than extracting it from the bone marrow of a donor. The process to get stem cells from a donor is a lengthy process that involves consent, compatibility testing and harvesting. Valuable time gets lost in this. Cord blood can be availed of easily from newborn cord blood banking than looking out for a donor for bone marrow with compatibility.

Misconception: Cord Blood Donors Are Easily Available and There Is No Need for Cord Blood Banking

Fact: In India, it is difficult to find donors easily. There is a long queue of patients seeking donors. Finding a donor can also be an expensive affair. The cost of one unit of stem cell can be anywhere between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh. Therefore, even if a match is found, many patients are not able to afford the treatment. Therefore, investing in newborn cord blood banking will help you access the stem cells whenever needed at a cheaper cost.

Misconception: Collecting Cord Blood Can Intervene During the Process of Delivery of a Baby

Fact: Cord blood collection does not intervene during the process of delivery of a baby. The umbilical cord blood is collected after the baby is born by clamping and cutting the umbilical cord. The process is safe for both normal and C-section delivery. Usually, the umbilical cord is discarded after the birth of the child but in newborn cord blood banking, the same is collected and preserved.

Misconceptions: All Cord Blood Banks Are the Same

Fact: All cord blood banks are not the same. There are two types of cord blood banks—public banks and private banks. Public banks allow parents to donate the umbilical cord blood of their baby, which is then mainly used for research purposes. At private banks, you have the option to save the umbilical cord blood of your newborn at a cost and access it whenever needed if at all. While choosing a private bank for baby stem cell storage, check the certification, technological expertise and safety standards followed by the bank.

Remember, a small investment in newborn cord blood banking today can save your child’s life tomorrow. Therefore, bust all myths and make an informed decision.

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