FAQ

1. What are stem cells?

Are primary cells which can be transformed into more mature cells of the organisms; they are precursors to all human cells.

2. What is the cord blood banking?

Preserving the newborn stem cells found in the blood of the umbilical cord, cord tissue and the placenta. It includes the whole process from collection through storage of newborn stem cells for future medical purposes.

3. What are the newborn stem cells?

Stem cells that are blood forming/hematopoietic, VSELs and mesenchymal stem cells that are mainly found in umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and placenta.

4. What type of cells are the newborn stem cells?

They are somatic adult stem cells and not embryonic stem cells.
Most of the cord blood stem cells are hematopoietic stem cells and most cord tissue stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells.
Stem cells that are collected upon birth include blood forming/hematopoietic, VSELs and mesenchymal stem cells that are mainly found in umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and placenta.

Stem cells that are blood forming/hematopoietic, VSELs and mesenchymal stem cells that are mainly found in umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and placenta.

5. What are the benefits of preserving the Newborn Stem Cells?

The cord blood, cord tissue and placenta stem cells are preserved to support a huge range of autologous and allogenic regenerative treatments for the future.
Young and autologous stem cells collected upon birth will be the best material for regenerative medicine and cell therapies in the future.

6. Why are the cord blood stem cells different from other sources of stem cells?

They are the very young and dynamic stem cells.

The hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood can be used effectively as substitute for bone marrow transplants as well as for Autoimmune disorders, blood cancers, Thalassemia, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and several other diseases that today are under clinical trials.

The MSC derived from Wharton’s jelly of cord tissue are young and dynamic that can support a huge range of regenerative medicine treatments that today are under clinical trials.

The MSC derived from Wharton’s jelly of cord tissue is an ideal source for IPSC (Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells). IPSC will be used in the future for human autologous organogenesis.

The VSELs isolated from the cord blood are new promising source for tissue rejuvenation, longevity and regeneration/repair of damaged tissues.

The MSC from birth sources, such as cord tissue and the placenta, grow faster than MSC from adult donors.

Currently MSC are the most popular form of cells that are being used in clinical trials and are appearing in published regenerative medicine research.

MSC show great promise for treating a wide variety of auto-immune disorders and treating injuries to muscle or bone (heart disease, sports injuries).

7. How is the cord blood collected?

It takes minutes to save the stem cells in cord blood. Once the umbilical cord is clamped, it is wiped with antiseptic and a needle is inserted into the vein in the umbilical cord to withdraw a few ml of umbilical cord blood by gravity.

8. How are the cord tissue and placenta collected?

After the cord blood is collected, the whole length of the umbilical cord and placenta are placed inside the sterile container.

9. What is the most important thing to do during the collection?

Collect the maximum possible volume of cord blood.

Follow the instructions in the collection kit.

Observe aseptic technique.

10. How is the cord blood collected?

The cord blood is collected by gravity holding the sterile collection bag lower allows it to flow freely into the collection bag.

11. What is included in the collection kit for cord blood, tissue and placenta?

a durable Collection kit with temperature protection is composed of:

• 1 pc. - triple sterile collection bag with CPD with Biohazard bag
• 4 pcs. - color-coded Vacutainer tubes (glass barcoded) in Biohazard bag
  • 6ml, violet-top vacutainer with EDTA
  • 3 ml, violet-top vacutainer with EDTA
  • 2 pcs - 4 ml, yellow-top vacutainer with gel and clot activator for serological tests
• Thermometer/temperature logger
• temperature control device
• 1 pair of sterile gloves – size 7
• 3 pcs - Sterile Umbilical cord clamps
• 1 pc. – sterile gauze pad
• 2 pcs. – sterile cotton pads with 70% ethyl alcohol; for disinfection
• 2 pcs. -sterile cotton pads with povidone iodine solution
• 1 pc. – cold pack to maintain a low temperature
• 1 pc. – vacutainer holder; for collection of blood for maternal testing.
• 2 pc. g 18 - sterile needle for vacutainer
• 1 pc. – tourniquet
• Instruction document
• Collection document

12. How much blood and stem cells do the typical umbilical cord blood hold?

The average volume of the cord blood is 60ml or 470,000,000 of TNC (Total Nucleated Cells).

13. What is the average time allowed for delayed cord clamping?

30-60 seconds. Delayed clamping over 1minute can cause serious problems to the baby.

14. Why is it important to choose a Family Bank that is accredited?

This provides a degree of quality assurance.

Our company follows accredited procedures by AABB (American Association of Blood Banks).

We are now on the process for the license from DOH (Department of Health) for Special Clinical Laboratory and Cell Therapy Center.

What are the mandatory testing for maternal blood?

17. What is included in the information pack of the parents?

• a. Brochure – Celleka BTV four crown services
• b. Application for the Processing, Quality Control and Cryopreservation of Stem Cells from Cord Blood and Placenta unit
• c. Consent for Cord Blood and Cord Tissue /Placenta Harvesting and Storage
• d. Maternal Health Questionnaire
• e. Cord Blood, Cord Tissue and Placenta Storage Contract