Cord Blood Storage and Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping

Cord Blood Storage and Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping
by Bouzgarrou HEdi
Many people believe that a choice has to be made between storing your baby’s cord blood and delayed clamping, but that is not the truth.  In fact, of the 200mL of blood contained in the umbilical after birth, only 20-40 mL will go into your newborn baby.  The benchmark amount of cord blood needed to store your baby’s cord blood is 50mL.  There is more than enough cord blood in the umbilical cord after birth to delay cutting the cord and still store this life-saving source of stem cells.

Was your baby’s umbilical cord clamped and cut right after birth?  Or did you elect to delay clamping and cutting the umbilical cord?  There is growing debate among the medical community surrounding delayed cord clamping and cutting.  Childbirth experts in the United Kingdom have gathered together to ask the National Health Service to change its policy on early clamping and cutting.

They believe that it is beneficial to the baby to delay the clamping of the cord to allow more blood to go into the baby’s body.  Since about a third of the baby’s blood is still in the cord and placenta at the time of birth, researchers believe that delaying the cutting until the cord stops pulsating naturally can help prevent the baby from developing iron-deficiency anemia.

In the United States, there has not been a clear determination as to whether delaying the clamping and cutting of the cord blood is beneficial at all to the baby.   All parties agree, however, that if there is an emergency during birth, such as the cord wrapped around the baby’s neck or the mother is hemorrhaging, then the cord should be cut right away.  One thing is for sure, more research needs to be done in the area of delayed cord blood clamping to determine the optimal time to clamp the umbilical cord.

Do you have an opinion on delayed umbilical cord clamping? Did you have your child’s clamping delayed during birth?  Share with us in the comments section!

Family Cord Blood Price & Accreditation Options

Family Cord Blood Price & Accreditation Options
For each company providing family storage of cord blood in this country, we list the LABORATORY that processes the cord blood, the ACCREDITATIONS held by the laboratory, and the number of cord blood collections that the laboratory has released for THERAPIES. The last two columns are the COST ( YEAR ONE ) of banking with this company, and the total COST ( YEAR 20 ) of storage, respectively. The three columns describing the laboratory will be the same for all companies that use the same laboratory, whereas the two cost columns are the unique prices charged by that company in this country.

An additional note about the number of THERAPIES: A number with NO "*" means the cord blood therapies were for private clients who had a family banking contract. A number with a "*" means the cord blood was listed on a public registry and released to a transplant patient outside the family. Some laboratories provide both types of storage.

Isolation of Mononuclear Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood

1. Isolation of Mononuclear Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood

Prepare EDTA-PBS buffer- add 5 ml bovine serum albumin (BSA) stock solution to 95 ml rinsing buffer (1:20 dilution). Degas the buffer and keep the buffer on ice. IMPORTANT: Failure to degas the buffer may result in less than optimal results when isolating CD19+ B-cells because bubbles may block the isolation column.
Prepare 50 ml conical tubes for density gradient centrifugation. Determine the number of tubes required for processing the cord blood (1 tube can process 8 ml blood) and add 15 ml of Ficoll-Paque PLUS to each tube.
Dilute 8 ml of cord blood with 24 ml DPBS (1X) and carefully layer the diluted cord blood mixture on top of the Ficoll-Paque PLUS in each of the 50 ml conical tubes. Do not mix the blood and Ficoll-Paque PLUS. IMPORTANT: To avoid mixing of the cord blood and Ficoll-Paque PLUS, hold the tube at a 45 degree angle and layer the blood mixture slowly.
Centrifuge at 400 x g for 40 min at 20 °C. Mononuclear cells (MNC) will remain at the plasma-Ficoll-Paque PLUS interface whereas granulocytes and erythrocytes sediment due to higher density at the osmotic pressure of Ficoll-Paque PLUS. Label seven 5 ml round-bottom tubes to be used in Part 3 with the sample ID, date and the following:
Tube Label Purpose
1 Unstained Unstained cells for normalization during flow cytometry
2 7AAD To determine viability during flow cytometry
3 +++ Contains the cells that will be sorted
4 34+ To collect CD34+/CD19+ (late pro-B - early pre-BI) cells
5 45low To collect CD34-/CD19+/CD45low (pre-BI) cells
6 45med To collect CD34-/CD19+/CD45med (pre-BII) cells
7 45high To collect CD34-/CD19+/ CD45high (immature B) cells
Coat tubes 4, 5, 6, and 7 with 2% FBS and place all tubes on ice.

Aspirate the upper plasma layer carefully and avoid contact with the mononuclear cell layer. Using a 10 ml glass pipette, carefully transfer the mononuclear cell layer to a new 50 ml conical tube. Combine the mononuclear cells from three tubes together into a single 50 ml tube.
Fill the tube with PBS, mix gently and centrifuge at 300 x g for 10 min at 20 °C. Carefully aspirate the supernatant without disturbing the cell pellet. Repeat 1x. After the first wash, resuspend the pellets and transfer to a single 50 ml conical tube.
Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 200 μl of PBS. Remove 1 μl of the cell suspension, add it to 1 ml of PBS in a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube and set aside for counting (count cells after placing the 50 ml cell suspension in the centrifuge). Fill the tube with PBS and centrifuge at 200 x g for 15 min to remove platelets. Remove the supernatant completely without disturbing the cell pellet.

What are the Benefits of Cord Blood?

What are the Benefits of Cord Blood?

Your baby’s natural and unique umbilical cord blood is chock full of special blood cells called stem cells. These stem cells have many potential health benefits for your baby and possibly even another family member. Stem cells are the body’s building blocks for important aspects of the body, including the blood, organs, tissues, and immune system. The stem cells are very individualized and unique to your baby. Therefore, by saving the cord blood, which is extracted safely after the baby’s birth, you are salvaging a precious biological resource that can potentially be used to cure certain conditions later on if needed. Umbilical cord blood and the stem cells contained within it have been found to help fight over 80 diseases, including cancer, blood disorders, and immune and genetic diseases. Leukemia, lupus, sickle cell anemia and countless other diseases have been shown to respond favorably to stem cell transplants. Studies are currently under way to show that stem cells may even be beneficial in fighting stroke, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and HIV. StemCyte is involved in collaborative research using cord blood stem cells. In our research efforts, we are particularly focused on using cord blood stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries by way of tissue regeneration. Your baby’s stem cells are a perfect match for him or her if he or she ever has a need for a stem cell transplant. In addition, the stem cells have a fifty percent chance of being a good match for a sibling of your baby and may even be a match for a parent of the baby. According to some reports, over 3,000 stem cell transplants from cord blood have occurred in the past 20 years, resulting in a cure for about forty to fifty percent of the patients. Stem cells from cord blood are safer than stem cells from bone marrow. Stem cells taken from bone marrow have a very high chance of being infected with a virus, particularly cytomegalovirus. These viruses can cause life-threatening health problems to those patients who receive the bone marrow. Cord blood is much less likely to contain viruses. Also, cord blood does not need to be an exact match like bone marrow does. There is a lower probability of graft versus host disease (GVHD) with cord blood as well. During transplantation, the stem cells within the cord blood help to repair the body’s red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are all needed for healthy blood and a strong immune system. The stem cells also work to repair bone, the heart, muscle cells, and nerve cells. They basically provide healthy cells that replace the damaged ones, fighting disease and strengthening the body’s defenses

How Blood Cord Banking Can Offer a Longer and Healthier Life

How Blood Cord Banking Can Offer a Longer and Healthier Life

Modern medicine has produced many miracles that have prevented and cured diseases, extended life spans and generally made everyone healthier. StemCyte is a company that is dedicated to the betterment of the health of humans through the preservation by its blood cord bank of stem cells. Stem cells are the "master cells" of the human body. Genetically unique, they serve as the building blocks that comprise the various elements of the body, including blood, tissue and individual organs. A particularly rich source of stem cells is the blood in the umbilical cords of newborn babies. Stem cells can actually serve as a human "repair kit" that can be used to tackle many ailments and inherited health conditions. They can be used to treat the person from whom they were obtained and in some cases even family members. Stem cells that are transplanted into a person's bone marrow can transform themselves into red and white blood cells and platelets. They can also be turned into other types of cells, including those that make up bones and heart muscle. Stem cells can in this manner be used to cure or allay more than 80 diseases, including leukemia, immune system deficiencies and such inherited disorders as sickle cell anemia. They may in the future be used in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and a host of other disorders that afflict the human body. The key to the use of stem cells is their proper collection and preservation, which is the specialty of StemCyte. Its streamlined process of saving stem cells has received worldwide recognition for its efficiency. StemCyte has in fact supplied more than 1,700 units of cord blood to nearly 300 hospitals, leading to life-saving transplants at a rate that is four times greater than any other stem cell preservation facility. StemCyte stands out from the others because of its ability to deliver stem cells in the greatest volume that are also of the highest quality. StemCyte will provide those enrolled in its program with a collection kit that is to be taken to the hospital and used on the day the child is born. The kit includes instructions to the healthcare providers as to how the cord blood is to be collected from the umbilical cord after the birth of the child. The entire process is simple and can be completed in less than 10 minutes. After it has been collected in a special container and sealed to prevent contamination, the cord blood will be picked up and taken by StemCyte to the company's laboratory. Once at the facility, the blood will be thoroughly tested and then preserved in liquid nitrogen vapor until the stem cells are needed. StemCyte has for more than 15 years employed a method of storage that is considered to be of the highest reliability. The protection of one's health begins at the moment of birth. This is possible with the collection and storage of stem through using the services of StemCyte. Anyone interested in these services should visit the company's website at www.stemcyte.com.

Tissue and Cord Blood Banking Offers Many Important Medical Benefits

Tissue and Cord Blood Banking Offers Many Important Medical Benefits

After a child is delivered and the umbilical cord is severed, there is some remaining blood in the placenta vessels and part of the umbilical cord still attached. After birth, a child no longer requires this extra blood source. Cord blood is highly rich in hematopoietic stem cells very similar to those in bone marrow. Therefore, it is a viable alternative to bone marrow for transplantation. With the increased use of cord blood on an experimental basis for various diseases, many people are starting to recognize the benefits of blood cord banking. A number of physicians now recommend newborn blood cord banking to their patients. They realize the potential power of stem cells to help treat life-threatening diseases such as certain cancers including leukemia, and addressing disorders that are immune, blood and metabolic related. An infant's cord blood can be an invaluable medical resource for families with a history of illness. This alone has prompted many parents to make the decision to bank with a trusted provider such as StemCyte. Unlike several other forms of stem cell harvesting, removing stem cells from an infant's umbilical cord doesn't harm or destroy the embryo. Also, a stem cell transplant from cord blood doesn't require an exact match in the way a bone marrow transplant does. A large benefit to using a private bank is that the cord blood is reserved exclusively for each family. We at StemCyte offer an industry-leading guarantee that stem cells will engraft upon transplantation or all service fees are fully refunded. Many parents may have never considered the process of collecting and preserving their newborn's cord tissue and blood. Once they realize how easy the process is and the potential benefits involved, the more inclined they are to do so. There is no risk or pain to both the child and mother throughout the collection process. This is because the blood is removed from the cord after being clamped and cut. Cord blood and tissue removal is safe for both conventional and cesarean deliveries. Our clients frequently tell us that the decision to use our services is highly rewarding. StemCyte extends a number of discounts to both prospective and returning clients. We are a full-service blood cord banking provider that offers a complete package including collection kit, processing, shipping and storage. Our interest-free and convenient payment plans make cord blood banking affordable. In fact, we feel we have the most affordable storage solutions available while maintaining the highest level of standards for our clients. The use of cord blood as an alternative source to collect stem cells is allowing growing numbers of patients to move forward with transplantation successfully. Annually, there are thousands of individuals diagnosed with diseases requiring a blood stem transplant. Finding a sufficient unrelated donor while battling time restraints due to disease progression can be difficult. For this reason, cord blood banking is proving to be a viable method of getting a stem cell transplant quickly. StemCyte delivers exceptional quality along with superior value and customer service.

Banking Cord Blood with Stemcyte

Banking Cord Blood with Stemcyte

Over the past 20 years, research has proven that stem cells, the building blocks of every type of cell in the human body, are a valuable resource when it comes to treating illnesses and diseases caused by both genetics and defects of birth. However, stem cells can only be obtained in a few ways. The safest and most ethical way to obtain stem cells is from the blood located in the umbilical cord which connects a baby to its mother's placenta. The blood in the umbilical cord is rich with stem cells which share the child's unique DNA sequence. For this reason, the stem cells in umbilical cord blood are an invaluable resource to doctors if a child ever needs to be treated for a serious disease. Stemcyte understands the importance of collecting and safely storing umbilical cord blood, and as such, has built their business around assuring healthy, safe futures for new babies through umbilical cord blood collection. What Needs to be Done in Order to Collect and Store Umbilical Cord Blood Through Stemcyte? The first step for expecting parents who wish to bank umbilical cord blood through Stemcyte is to contact Stemcyte for more information about the procedure as well as a cord blood collection kit. This can help parents financially plan for banking their baby's cord blood before the baby is delivered. Stemcyte will inform the medical provider chosen by the parents of their decision to bank cord blood through the company. The parents must bring the cord blood collection kit with them to the hospital when the baby is delivered. Cord blood can be collected from the umbilical cord and placenta both internally and externally. Regardless of how the procedure is performed, it is quick, painless and will not interfere with post-birth health. Once umbilical cord blood is collected, it is shipped to a safe Stemcyte facility in order to be analyzed and stored for any potential future uses. What are the Potential Benefits of Banking Cord Blood? Because stem cells are the building blocks for all other types of human cells, there are a wide range of diseases and health issues that can be treated with the use of stem cells. By banking cord blood cells, a child is assured to have stem cells available which have an exact DNA match, increasing the effectiveness of treatment. Stem cells have been shown to effectively treat acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative disorders, lymphoproliferative disorders, phagocyte disorders, inherited metabolic disorders, histiocystic disorders, inherited erythrocyte abnormalities, inherited immune system disorders, inherited platelet abnormalities, plasma cell disorders, other malignancies and other inherited disorders. Why Choose Stemcyte? Stemcyte is an accredited facility which is licensed to practice in all 50 states. Since 1997, we have worked both nationally and internationally to provide lifesaving blood transfusions and cord blood storage for parents. Our licenses and accreditation go well above and beyond the national standard. Our processing method has been carefully analyzed and perfected over years of use, and our collection kit is of superior quality, ensuring the safety and security of your most precious resource.

Cord Blood Bank Settles

Cord Blood Bank Settles FTC Charges that it Failed to Protect Consumers’ Sensitive Personal Information
Security Breach Allegedly Exposed Nearly 300,000 Consumers’ Information
The operator of a leading cord blood bank, Cbr Systems, Inc., agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it failed to protect the security of customers’ personal information, and that its inadequate security practices contributed to a breach that exposed Social Security numbers and credit and debit card numbers of nearly 300,000 consumers.

The settlement is part of the FTC’s ongoing efforts to protect the security and confidentiality of consumers’ sensitive health and financial information.  It requires Cbr to establish and maintain a comprehensive information security program and submit to security audits by independent auditors every other year for 20 years.  The settlement also bars Cbr from misrepresenting its privacy and security practices.      

“The FTC can and will take action to make sure that companies live up to the privacy promises they make to consumers, particularly when it comes to highly sensitive information like the health information collected by Cbr,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz.  “The exposure of this information has the potential to cause real harm to consumers.”        

Cbr Systems is a leading provider of umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue banking services.  Consumers pay to preserve and store a newborn’s cord blood and cord tissue because they contain stem cells, the use of which researchers are investigating to treat some diseases and conditions.

In its privacy policy, Cbr claimed that “[w]henever CBR handles personal information, regardless of where this occurs, CBR takes steps to ensure that your information is treated securely and in accordance with the relevant Terms of Service and this Privacy Policy. . . . ”

However, according to the FTC, Cbr failed to use reasonable and appropriate procedures for handling customers’ personal information, making its privacy policy claim deceptive under the FTC Act.  According to the complaint, Cbr did not have reasonable policies and procedures to protect the security of information it collected and maintained.  In addition, Cbr allegedly created unnecessary risks to personal information by, among other things, transporting backup tapes, a thumb drive, and other portable data storage devices containing personal information in a way that made the information vulnerable to theft.  According to the FTC, Cbr also failed to take sufficient measures to prevent, detect, and investigate unauthorized access to computer networks.

The FTC charged that Cbr’s failures to provide reasonable and appropriate security for consumers’ personal information contributed to a December 2010 security breach during which unencrypted backup tapes containing consumers’ personal information, a Cbr laptop, a Cbr external hard drive, and a Cbr USB drive were stolen from a Cbr’s employee’s personal vehicle in San Francisco, California.  According to the complaint, the unencrypted backup tapes included, in some cases, the names, gender, Social Security numbers, dates and times of birth, drivers’ license numbers, credit and debit card numbers, card expiration dates, checking account numbers, addresses, email addresses, telephone number and adoption type (e.g., open, closed, or surrogate) of approximately 298,000 Cbr customers.

The FTC complaint also alleges that the unencrypted Cbr laptop and unencrypted Cbr external hard drive contained network information, including passwords and protocols, that could have permitted an intruder to access Cbr’s network, where sensitive personal health information was stored.

Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business, and other FTC resources provide practical tips to help businesses keep the data they collect secure.  Consumers who believe their personal information may have been compromised by a data breach should read Signs of Identity Theft and watch the FTC’s video “What is Identity Theft?”  Consumers can also check their free credit report for accuracy.

The Commission vote to accept the consent agreement package containing the proposed consent order for public comment was 5-0.  The FTC will publish a description of the consent agreement package in the Federal Register shortly.  The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through February 28, 2013, after which the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final.  Interested parties can submit comments electronically or in paper form by following the instructions in the “Invitation To Comment” part of the “Supplementary Information” section.  Comments in paper form should be mailed or delivered to:  Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-113 (Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.  The FTC is requesting that any comment filed in paper form near the end of the public comment period be sent by courier or overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions.

NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the respondent has actually violated the law. A consent order is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the respondent that the law has been violated. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of up to $16,000.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC's online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.