Cord Blood Banking
What is Cord Blood?
Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is delivered. In the past, cord blood was traditionally discarded as medical waste. However, following years of research, medical scientists have now applied the stem cells found in cord blood to successfully treat over 80 diseases!
Treatable Diseases
Thus far, cord blood stem cells have been successfully used to treat numerous diseases, including cancers (such as leukemia, lymphomas, myelomas), blood disorders (such as thalassemias, sickle cell anemia, Fanconi’s anemia), and immune deficiency diseases. Please refer to all treatable diseases. Recently, cord blood stem cells have been used in clinical trials to repair damaged tissues and organs (regenerative medicine), and the outcomes have been promising.
Life-Saving Potential that is Too Precious to Waste
Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells
Bone marrow transplantation is a definitive or adjuvant therapy for patients with otherwise life-threatening diseases; however, finding a suitable bone marrow donor in a timely manner when a patient requires a transplant can be extremely difficult. Cord blood has the same types of stem cells as those found in bone marrow. The cells in cord blood can therefore be used as an alternative to bone marrow stem cells to save the lives of patients.
It contains valuable, therapeutic stem cells
Unrestricted somatic stem cells
(USSC)
The discovery of unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC), a non-hematopoietic stem cell population, brought cord blood (CB) to the forefront of regenerative medicine, a new field that uses cord blood to repair damaged tissues and organs (Matsumoto T and Mugishima H, Int J Stem Cells, 83-89 Nov 2(2) 2009).
Mesenchymal stem cells
(MSC)
Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types, such as osteoblasts (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells) and adipocytes (fat cells) and more. (A.Malgieri, E. Kantzari, M. Patrizi and S. Gambaradella, IJCEM, 248-269, 2010)
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC)
The use of human cord-blood-derived EPCs is used for induction of angiogenesis in critical ischemic diseases.
It has been successfully used to treat many types of life-threatening diseases
Stem cells have been used to treat many types of malignant and non-malignant life-threatening diseases. Cord blood stem cells have saved the lives of over forty thousand patients worldwide.
It has been recommended that transplanting cord blood stem cells with a perfect HLA match should be the first choice over bone marrow to treat malignant diseases (Smith A. and Wagner J. BJH147, 246–261, 2009).
100% Match with Your Baby (Autologous use)
The number of the autologous therapy cases (treatment using the baby’s own cord blood stem cells) has raised exponentially, compared with the growth in the number of treatments using cord blood stem cells donated by others. (Verter F and Nietfeld J. Cytotherapy Vol.12 Supplement 1, 2010 (abstract)).
Since there is a chance that a child may be a close match with a sibling, it is more beneficial to save cord blood stem cells from each child to increase the probability of matching a family member who may develop a disease requiring stem cell therapy. Moreover, the additional cord blood units can be used for patients whose treatments may require two cord blood units.
Autologous transplantation of cord blood could become an important therapy
It is increasing much faster than allogeneic transplantation
The rising rate of autologous therapy (treatment with the donor’s own cord blood stem cells) exceeds exponential growth, compared with linear growth in the number of allogeneic cord blood transplants being performed (NMDP) (treatment with cord blood stem cells donated by others) (Verter F and Nietfeld J. Cytotherapy Vol.12 Supplement 1, 2010 (abstract)).
Banking cord blood at birth is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Cord blood can only be collected at birth but the life saving potential of these valuable cells can last a life-time.
Treatable Diseases
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急性白血病急性混合型白血病 急性淋巴性白血病 急性骨髓性白血病 急性未分化性白血病
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CHRONIC LEUKEMIAS慢性淋巴球白血病 慢性骨髓性白血病 青少年慢性骨髓性白血病 青少年骨髓單核細胞性白血病
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骨髓發育不良症候群澱粉樣變性病 慢性骨髓單核細胞性白血病 頑固性貧血過量芽細胞頑固性貧血 過量芽細胞頑固性貧血合併急性轉化 環形鐵粒幼細胞性難治性貧血
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幹細胞病變再生不良貧血 先天性血球胞缺乏症 先天性角化不良 範康尼貧血 陣發性夜間血紅素尿症
Cord Tissue
Cord tissue can be collected and processed in addition to cord blood.
Progenics’ cord tissue collection kit contains all the supplies your healthcare provider needs for the collection of your baby’s cord tissue.
The Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSCs) have more primitive properties than adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells. UC-MSCs have a greater expansion ability in vitro and faster doubling time than adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells which might make them a useful source for clinical applications.
What is Cord Tissue?
After your baby is born, your health care professional will obtain a segment of the umbilical cord (approximately 15cm in length) called cord tissue.
Cord tissue, specifically the Wharton’s Jelly portion that we cryopreserve in our processing laboratory, is considered a rich source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) which have the ability to regenerate themselves in addition to their potential to differentiate into various specialized cells such as bone cells, cartilage cells and fat cells among others. The mentioned cells can be used in regenerative medicine to potentially treat specific medical conditions. MSCs are related to lower risk of rejection and transplant complications.
Currently, MSCs is the subject of over 300 clinical trials with the potential to someday treat conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, skin burns and injuries to bones and cartilage. It holds promise to treat various acute and degenerative diseases as well as immune-medicated diseases.
What is the difference between Cord Blood and Cord Tissue?
The main difference between cord blood and cord tissue is the type of stem cells that are found in each of them.
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are found in the umbilical cord blood. These HSCs are the type of stem cells used to treat over 80 diseases currently. HSCs can develop into various blood forming cells to treat blood-related conditions and disorders including lymphoma and leukemia.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells found in the umbilical cord tissue that can be differentiated into many types of cells such as muscle (myocytes), bone (osteoblasts), cartilage (chondrocytes), and fat (adipocytes) cells. Research of MSCs is growing at a rapid pace globally. Currently, MSCs is the subject of over 300 clinical trials with the potential to someday treat conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, skin burns and injuries to bones and cartilage.
Why bank both Cord Blood and Cord Tissue?
You may bank both cord blood and cord tissue once the baby is born as this can only be collected at birth. Consider this as insurance for the future. Cord blood is already proven to treat over 80 diseases with more trials still being conducted to discover more potential uses. Cord tissue although still in clinical trials is looking very promising because it has the potential to treat a wide range of conditions and it can be regenerated providing the possibility for multiple treatments.
Collection Kit
Progenics’ collection kit contains all the supplies your healthcare provider will need for the collection of your baby’s cord blood and Cord Tissue.
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Cooling Pack
The cooling pack is included in the collection kit for temperature control.
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Sterile Cord Blood Collection Bag
We use Pall cord blood collection bags which have completed an extensive sterilization process by the manufacturer. It is made safe and convenient for all cord blood collections by healthcare professionals. The bag is Health Canada, FDA and CE marked under the Medical Devices Directive for the collection of cord blood.
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Collection Kit (Local)
Progenics uses professional grade cases to transport samples locally, providing the highest level of protection during transit from hospitals back to the laboratory.
2
Sterile ChloraPrep® Applicator
The applicators are used to disinfect the cord prior to cord blood and cord tissue collection.
5
6mL Tubes
Maternal blood samples are collected for testing to detect potential infectious disease transmission via transplantation of cord blood units.
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LogTag (Temperature Log)
A LogTag is included to continuously monitor the temperature in your collection kit.
3
Cord Blood Collection Details and Tamper Evident Seal
Cord blood collection details will be recorded on the identification label. The tamper evident seal will be secured on the collection kit for transportation to Progenics Laboratory.
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Collection Instruction, and Cord Blood & Cord Tissue Collection Record
Detailed instructions are included for reference. Collection information will be recorded on the Cord Blood & Cord Tissue Collection Record.
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Cord Tissue Specimen Container
A segment of umbilical cord tissue is collected and sealed in a sterile Specimen container.
Three Easy Steps to Bank Your Baby’s Cord Blood and Cord Tissue
Step 1 – Registration
Registration can be completed in person, over the phone, online, by fax, mail, or e-mail. Register 2 to 3 months in advance and receive your collection kit.
(In certain circumstances you can still register with Progenics as long as there is enough time to deliver a collection kit to you before you give birth to your baby. Emergency kits are also available at certain hospitals in the GTA and surrounding areas, please give us a call for more information!)
Step 2 – Collection
Bring your collection kit to the hospital on the day of your delivery. Your healthcare provider will use the supplies for collecting the samples.
Step 3 – Courier to Progenics
Contact Progenics’ designated courier for collection kit pick-up.