What are haematopoietic stem cells?

Haematopoietic stem cells divide to become other types of cells contained in the body. The Stem Cells found in Cord Blood and bone marrow can divide and become red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Stem Cells are currently being used in the treatment of over 40 different cancers, immune deficiencies and genetic disorders. As more research is conducted on stem cells, there is compelling evidence which suggests that

in the future, stem cells will become the basis for treating diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and heart disease.

What is Cord Blood?

Umbilical cord blood is the blood contained in your child’s umbilical cord following birth. It is the richest source of stem cells, the building blocks of the blood and immune systems.

How do Cord Blood Stem Cells compare to other sources of Stem Cells?

• There is no risk involved in the collection of cord blood. Collecting cord blood is a very safe and painless procedure.
• Cord blood is much easier to collect and harvest without the risks of general anaesthesia required to harvest bone marrow.
• Cord blood is readily available when needed (if collected and stored at birth).
• Cord blood stem cells can also be used by your family, there is a 25% probability of being an exact match for a sibling, and can potentially be used for parents and grandparents.
• Cord blood has lower procurement costs compared with peripheral blood or bone marrow harvesting.

Most families choose to store their baby’s Cord Blood for the security of knowing that should the need arise, the stored Cord Blood is abundantly available and a perfect match for your baby and can be used for potential treatment.

There are also those who have an existing medical need, such as a family history of disease or a family member who is sick with a condition that would use Cord Blood Stem Cells as part of the treatment therapy.

Storing Cord Blood increases the chance that if someone in your family needs a stem cell transplant; they can use stem cells from a relative.

Collection

The process is simple. The procedure is completely safe, painless and non-invasive. It is taken immediately after your baby is born, and takes only five minutes after the umbilical cord is cut and clamped. It does not interrupt the birth experience.

After your baby is born, but before the placenta is delivered, your OB/GYN or midwife cleans a 4 to 8 inch area of umbilical cord with antiseptic

solution and inserts the blood bag needle into the umbilical vein. The blood flows into the bag by gravity and then is clamped, sealed and labelled. The collection typically takes 2 to 4 minutes. Two tubes of maternal blood are also drawn.

Storage

For the processing and cryopreservation of cord blood LifeBank uses operating procedures followed by the majority of private and public cord blood banks worldwide.

Following the delivery of the cord blood at LifeBank’s premises, the quantity of the blood collected is measured. The sample undergoes a series of tests in order to establish the sutability of the blood for cryopreservation. If the sample is found unsuitable for cryopreservation then the parents are notified.

If the sample is found suitable for cryopreservation then LifeBank proceeds with the processing of the sample. Using standard operating procedures the Red blood cells and plasma are removed and the remaining sample is transferred in a special cryocyte bag for storage (volume reduction).

With the use of specialised equipment the cryopreservation of the samples is achieved by control rate freezing. The cryopreservation of cord blood by control rate freezing is probably the most important requirement in order to ensure the viability of the cells and their percentage of recovery in case there needed for use.

The samples are stored in special liquid nitrogen tanks. In these tanks liquid nitrogen is only present at the perimeter and the samples are stored in nitrogen vapour phase instead of being sunk in liduid nitrogen (isothermal storage system). This is important for preserving the same temperature in all levels of the tank and thus ensuring that the samples are safe and better protected.

LifeBank is the first company in Cyprus able to offer two choices to future parents regarding cord blood banking. With LifeBank future parents are able:

1. To donate blood from the umbilical cord of their child in a public cord blood bank. Parents have no financial requirement for this choice since the sample is not intended for the sole use of their child but is instead available to anyone that may need it.
2. To choose saving the blood from the umbilical cord of their child for the sole use of the child and its family. The umbilical cord blood is collected and cryopreserved for at least fifteen years and is the property of the family. In this case, the parents will pay an amount for the processing and cryopreservation of the sample.

Why choose LifeBank?

• Our facilities and equipment as well as our procedures follow recognised high standards set by reputable organizations such as EUROCORD and NETCORD.
• All our scientific personnel was trained at the Tel Hashomer hospital in Israel, which is among the leading CBB units in Europe. 
• All our scientific personnel are certified members of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) (www.aabb.org).
• Our scientific committee is made up of world renowned scientists with many years experience in the CBB field.
• Leading organizations such as the Tel Hashomer Hospital and the Cyprus Institute of Neurlogy & Genetics have chosen to work with us.