CordBancUSA - Cord Blood Bank Frequently Asked Questions - Why Choose CordBancUSA to store my stem cells?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is cord blood?

A. Cord blood is the blood that remains in a baby's umbilical cord after birth. Because the blood is rich in stem cells, it has the potential to be used in life-saving medical procedures. The stem cells are the component of the cord blood that is preserved for future use by cord blood banking.

Q. What are stem cells?

A. Stem cells can be considered the body's "master" cells: they give rise to all the tissues, organs, and systems in the body. These amazing cells retain the ability to divide throughout life and give rise to cells that can become highly specialized and take the place of cells that die or are lost.

Stem cells' ability to differentiate, or change into other types of cells in the body, means that they hold tremendous potential for treating and curing common diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. Stem cells are already being used to treat nearly 70 diseases, including leukemia, other cancers, and many blood disorders.

Q. Why would I want to store my baby's cord blood?

A. Banking your baby's cord blood cells preserve his or her future treatment options. It may also protect other family members. Cord blood stem cells have at least a one-in-four chance of matching a sibling, and stem cell transplants using cord blood from siblings have a documented high success rate. Sibling-to-sibling transplants have been used for a wide array of diseases and conditions, such as lymphoma, leukemia, and other cancers, as well as immune disorders and anemias. With cord blood, there is also a reduced risk of graft-versus-host-disease, a major complication of other types of stem cell and bone marrow transplants.

Q. What is the history of the use of cord blood in transplantations?

A. In 1988, doctors at the Hospital Saint Louis in France performed the first transplantation using umbilical cord blood. (The chair of our Scientific Advisory Board, Dominique Charron, is Chairman of the Department of Immunology and Histocompatibility at the Hospital Saint Louis.) A disease-free sibling was the donor for a recipient suffering from Fanconi anemia. Since then, cord blood stem cells (and stem cells in general) have been used with increasing frequency as an alternative to bone marrow transplants.

Q. What is the difference between cord blood stem cells and embryonic stem cells?

A. Cord blood stem cells come from a fully developed baby, not an embryo. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from fertilized eggs. While research involving embryonic stem cells has generated debate, the use of cord blood stem cells, which come from a fully developed baby, is not controversial.

Q. What if my baby or someone in my family needs to use the cord blood cells?

A. A physician would need to send us a written request by certified mail to have your cells transferred to the designated location. The stored cells would be transported in a special shipping container in order to maintain cryogenic temperatures. The cost of transportation would be your responsibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions - About the Collection of Cord Blood

Q. Who collects my cord blood cells?

A. A healthcare provider who is with you at time of birth.

Q. How is the cord blood collected?

A. A kit will be sent to you in advance with complete instructions for you and the qualified healthcare provider attending the birth. Using a sterile collection bag, cord blood is drawn from the umbilical cord after it has been clamped and cut. Maternal blood is also collected for infectious disease testing to ensure your blood is suitable for future use. Cord blood can be collected after a traditional delivery or a C-section. Instructions for both procedures are provided in your kit.

Q. Are there any risks to the mother or baby?

A. No adverse events have been recorded secondary to cord blood collection. There is absolutely no risk to the mother or baby. Your healthcare provider harvests the cord blood into the collection receptacle after cutting the umbilical cord.

Q. Will I be charged by a healthcare professional for the collection of the blood?

A. Many healthcare providers charge a fee for their role in collecting umbilical cord blood. It is important to discuss the procedure with your healthcare provider prior to enrolling with CordBancUSA to verify their agreement to perform the collection and to determine their policy regarding a collection fee.

Frequently Asked Questions - About the Storage Process

Q. How are my baby’s cord blood cells processed?

A. The cord blood is reduced to isolate the white blood cells, including stem cells, and to remove the plasma and red blood cells. Visit our detailed page on processing and storage for more information.

Q. What testing is performed?

A. In connection with required screening for participation in CordBancUSA^TM's cord blood storage program, a maternal blood sample is taken to test for infectious diseases, including HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the probable causative agent of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In addition to HIV, the maternal blood sample is tested for Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, HTLV (Human T-Lymphotropic Virus), CMV (Cytomegalovirus), Syphilis, and any other tests required by law.

Q. How are my baby's cord blood cells stored?

A. CordBancUSA uses a functionally closed system to ensure there is no contact with other blood cells or external elements. After the stem cells have been processed, a cryoprotectant is added to allow the cells to be safely frozen. The cells are then packaged and carefully frozen using a rate-controlled freezing method. Your baby’s stem cells are stored in liquid nitrogen at an ultra low temperature of -196°C. Our storage technology provides the most secure, long-term cryogenic storage available. Learn more about our technology.

Q. How long can cord blood cells be cryogenically stored?

A. According to studies, stem cells have proven viable after 15 years of cryopreservation using our technology. However, a number of experts believe these cells can be preserved indefinitely because the molecular state of the cells has been suspended due to freezing. ^1*

Q. How do I know my baby's cord blood cells have been safely stored?

A. Upon completion of the cryopreservation and storage process, we will send you a Certificate of Storage. This will confirm that your cells were successfully processed and stored with CordBancUSA.

Q. How secure is the CordBancUSA storage facility?

A. All banked blood is stored in Monterey, California, at CordBancUSA’s headquarters and laboratory. All of our cryostorage units are monitored by 24/7 surveillance systems that will alert CordBancUSA personnel of any problems. Entry into our constantly monitored laboratory and storage area is gained only through a controlled access point.

Q. What happens to my baby’s cord blood cells if there is a power outage?

A. Because we store the cells in liquid nitrogen, our BioArchive® System is not dependent on electrical power to keep the cells frozen. In addition, our storage facility is located next to the Monterey Peninsula Airport and shares the same power grid. This location is not only optimal from a power-failure standpoint, but also allows us excellent access to deliveries of cord blood ready to be processed.

Q. What is your privacy policy?

A. At CordBancUSA, your personal privacy is important. We recognize you may have an interest in how we collect, retain, and use information about you. For further information, please refer to our privacy policy.

1* Kobylka, P. Preservation of Immunological and Colony-Forming Capabilities of Long-Term (15 years) Cryopreserved Cord Blood Stem Cells. Transplantation. 1998;65(9):1275-1278.

Q.	What is cord blood?
A.	Cord blood is the blood that remains in a baby's umbilical cord after birth. Because the blood is rich in stem cells, it has the potential to be used in life-saving medical procedures. The stem cells are the component of the cord blood that is preserved for future use by cord blood banking.

Q.	What are stem cells?
A.	Stem cells can be considered the body's "master" cells: they give rise to all the tissues, organs, and systems in the body. These amazing cells retain the ability to divide throughout life and give rise to cells that can become highly specialized and take the place of cells that die or are lost. Stem cells' ability to differentiate, or change into other types of cells in the body, means that they hold tremendous potential for treating and curing common diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. Stem cells are already being used to treat nearly 70 diseases, including leukemia, other cancers, and many blood disorders.

Q.	Why would I want to store my baby's cord blood?
A.	Banking your baby's cord blood cells preserve his or her future treatment options. It may also protect other family members. Cord blood stem cells have at least a one-in-four chance of matching a sibling, and stem cell transplants using cord blood from siblings have a documented high success rate. Sibling-to-sibling transplants have been used for a wide array of diseases and conditions, such as lymphoma, leukemia, and other cancers, as well as immune disorders and anemias. With cord blood, there is also a reduced risk of graft-versus-host-disease, a major complication of other types of stem cell and bone marrow transplants.

Q.	What is the history of the use of cord blood in transplantations?
A.	In 1988, doctors at the Hospital Saint Louis in France performed the first transplantation using umbilical cord blood. (The chair of our Scientific Advisory Board, Dominique Charron, is Chairman of the Department of Immunology and Histocompatibility at the Hospital Saint Louis.) A disease-free sibling was the donor for a recipient suffering from Fanconi anemia. Since then, cord blood stem cells (and stem cells in general) have been used with increasing frequency as an alternative to bone marrow transplants.

Q.	What is the difference between cord blood stem cells and embryonic stem cells?
A.	Cord blood stem cells come from a fully developed baby, not an embryo. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from fertilized eggs. While research involving embryonic stem cells has generated debate, the use of cord blood stem cells, which come from a fully developed baby, is not controversial.

Q.	What if my baby or someone in my family needs to use the cord blood cells?
A.	A physician would need to send us a written request by certified mail to have your cells transferred to the designated location. The stored cells would be transported in a special shipping container in order to maintain cryogenic temperatures. The cost of transportation would be your responsibility.

Q.	Who collects my cord blood cells?
A.	A healthcare provider who is with you at time of birth.

Q.	How is the cord blood collected?
A.	A kit will be sent to you in advance with complete instructions for you and the qualified healthcare provider attending the birth. Using a sterile collection bag, cord blood is drawn from the umbilical cord after it has been clamped and cut. Maternal blood is also collected for infectious disease testing to ensure your blood is suitable for future use. Cord blood can be collected after a traditional delivery or a C-section. Instructions for both procedures are provided in your kit.

Q.	Are there any risks to the mother or baby?
A.	No adverse events have been recorded secondary to cord blood collection. There is absolutely no risk to the mother or baby. Your healthcare provider harvests the cord blood into the collection receptacle after cutting the umbilical cord.

Q.	Will I be charged by a healthcare professional for the collection of the blood?
A.	Many healthcare providers charge a fee for their role in collecting umbilical cord blood. It is important to discuss the procedure with your healthcare provider prior to enrolling with CordBancUSA to verify their agreement to perform the collection and to determine their policy regarding a collection fee.

Q.	How are my baby’s cord blood cells processed?
A.	The cord blood is reduced to isolate the white blood cells, including stem cells, and to remove the plasma and red blood cells. Visit our detailed page on processing and storage for more information.

Q.	What testing is performed?
A.	In connection with required screening for participation in CordBancUSA^TM's cord blood storage program, a maternal blood sample is taken to test for infectious diseases, including HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the probable causative agent of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In addition to HIV, the maternal blood sample is tested for Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, HTLV (Human T-Lymphotropic Virus), CMV (Cytomegalovirus), Syphilis, and any other tests required by law.

Q.	How are my baby's cord blood cells stored?
A.	CordBancUSA uses a functionally closed system to ensure there is no contact with other blood cells or external elements. After the stem cells have been processed, a cryoprotectant is added to allow the cells to be safely frozen. The cells are then packaged and carefully frozen using a rate-controlled freezing method. Your baby’s stem cells are stored in liquid nitrogen at an ultra low temperature of -196°C. Our storage technology provides the most secure, long-term cryogenic storage available. Learn more about our technology.

Q.	How long can cord blood cells be cryogenically stored?
A.	According to studies, stem cells have proven viable after 15 years of cryopreservation using our technology. However, a number of experts believe these cells can be preserved indefinitely because the molecular state of the cells has been suspended due to freezing. ^1*

Q.	How do I know my baby's cord blood cells have been safely stored?
A.	Upon completion of the cryopreservation and storage process, we will send you a Certificate of Storage. This will confirm that your cells were successfully processed and stored with CordBancUSA.

Q.	How secure is the CordBancUSA storage facility?
A.	All banked blood is stored in Monterey, California, at CordBancUSA’s headquarters and laboratory. All of our cryostorage units are monitored by 24/7 surveillance systems that will alert CordBancUSA personnel of any problems. Entry into our constantly monitored laboratory and storage area is gained only through a controlled access point.

Q.	What happens to my baby’s cord blood cells if there is a power outage?
A.	Because we store the cells in liquid nitrogen, our BioArchive® System is not dependent on electrical power to keep the cells frozen. In addition, our storage facility is located next to the Monterey Peninsula Airport and shares the same power grid. This location is not only optimal from a power-failure standpoint, but also allows us excellent access to deliveries of cord blood ready to be processed.

Q.	What is your privacy policy?
A.	At CordBancUSA, your personal privacy is important. We recognize you may have an interest in how we collect, retain, and use information about you. For further information, please refer to our privacy policy.