We know the umbilical cord is a rich source of stem cells. By cryo-preserving your baby’s stem cell sample, Cells for Life guarantees the highest quality of service in cord blood banking.
Cord blood stem cells are obtained from the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta after the cord is cut at a baby’s birth. The cord blood is collected by a health care provider and sent to the laboratory, where stem cells are extracted from the red and white blood cells and platelets.
Cryo-Preserving Stem Cells
Next, the stem cells are frozen and stored, or cryopreserved, in a liquid nitrogen tank. The samples are stored at -190 degrees C or colder in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen, which has been determined a very safe way to store your samples. These stem cells can be thawed and transfused intravenously (by IV) into a patient needing stem cell treatment. Cord blood stem cells are currently used to treat a wide variety of diseases.
The Cells for Life Quality Commitment
Our processing and cryopreservation laboratory at Toronto General Hospital operates 365 days a year. We use highly sophisticated equipment that has been carefully evaluated and selected to provide high quality results.
In co-operation with Core CyroLab, we were the first cord blood bank in Ontario to obtain AABB accreditation, and the second to acquire FACT accreditation in 2012.
Our biorepository has the capacity to store more than 125,000 cord blood samples. Our clients rest assured knowing their valuable biological samples are stored safely and securely. The facility is always locked and no one is allowed to enter the facility without being accompanied by a staff member. The storage tanks are monitored 24/7, 365 days a year to ensure that the temperature never is out of range. We are also connected to UHN’s emergency power network, so power failures will not affect the safety of the samples. Should disaster strike, we have plans in place for safe evacuation of the samples.
Storage Time for Cord Blood Banking
Scientists have reported that cryogenically preserved cells can be stored for a long time, and this applies also to frozen cord blood. This is supported by two key facts:
- Cord blood stem cells are stored at or below -190 degrees C, where biological activity ceases.
- Other cell types and sperm have been stored for 50-plus years and have remained viable when thawed.