Frequently Asked Questions about Cord Blood and PacifiCord
Cord blood stem cells represent a new, exciting era in medicine. It's only natural that you have questions about the process and about PacifiCord.
Cord Blood FAQs
- What are stems cells?
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Stem cells are the building blocks of life, and a foundation for a new age in medicine. In medical terms, they're "undifferentiated" cells that have the ability to renew themselves.
In plain English, stem cells are blank slates. They have the potential to become any of the tissues and organs found in our bodies. For example, stem cells can be turned into into specific differentiated cells types, like muscle cells for the heart, bone cells or nerve cells. Research is showing that stem cells may one day act as a super repair kit for the body-generating healthy tissues to grow replacement organs or even cure cancer.
- What is umbilical cord blood (UCB)?
- UCB is the blood present in the umbilical cord and the placenta. Not long ago, the cord and the placenta would be discarded as biological waste, as in the past we did not understand cord blood's value. The first research paper about human stem cells was released in 1998. To date over 8,000 patients have been treated for a variety of diseases using cord blood.
- What are the advantages of umbilical cord blood?
- Umbilical cord blood, an abundant source of stem cells, is the blood in both the umbilical cord and the placenta. Today, cord blood stem cells can be used to treat over 70 diseases including cancers and blood-related diseases along with immunity and metabolic disorder diseases. Bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood are the main sources of stem cells. For clinical transplantation of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), umbilical cord blood offers many advantages. Bone marrow transplantation has become a widespread therapy but major drawbacks include unavailability of matched bone marrow, a rather invasive process to the donor to harvest the bone marrow, and a more life-threatening transplant related complication called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may develop. Cord blood is easy to collect, readily available when needed and avoids the potential complications associated with GVHD. Because of these factors, transplantation of umbilical cord blood is rapidly becoming the stem cell source of choice.
- Why should I collect and store my baby's cord blood?
- There are over 70 diseases which have been successfully treated with cord blood stem cells. Collecting and storing your baby's cord blood enables you to have ready access to these precious stem cells should the need arise to treat some of these diseases. Future applications in regenerative medicine, a rapidly emerging area of medicine, may enable stem cells to treat many injuries and diseases previously thought to be untreatable. What we don't know today is what the future holds in regard to new therapies. What we do know is that there is only one chance to collect your baby's cord blood stem cells.
- Who should strongly consider cord blood banking services?
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1. Families with a higher predisposition to certain diseases, i.e. blood disorders, immunodeficiency diseases, cancers etc.
2. Couples who suffer from infertility as the chance of conceiving again is unknown, there is less of a chance a future sibling's cord blood stem cells could be used in the event a transplant is needed.
3. Those adopting an unborn child, because the contact with the child's birth parents will be lost, it's a good idea to store the cord blood of the adoptive child.
4. Children with a mixed ethnic background have a lower chance of finding a human leukocyte antigens (HLA) matched sample.
5. Minor ethnic groups. It may be very difficult to find a Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) matched sample among minor ethnic groups due to their low population.
- Is there any risk to me or my child?
- The cord blood collection process is simple, safe and does not interfere with your delivery. It is also painless for both the mother and newborn. Ultimately, your physician will determine whether it is safe to collect your baby's cord blood.
- Can you collect cord blood if the delivery is by C-Section?
- Yes. Collection for a C-Section delivery is very similar to that of a vaginal delivery. The primary difference is that your physician performing the collection will use additional equipment provided in the PacifiCord Collection Kit to safely collect the cord blood because the collection is performed in a sterile operating room environment.
- After banking my first child's cord blood, is it necessary to bank my second child's?
- Yes. Although the success in matching human leukocyte antigen (HLA) between siblings is much higher than people with no blood relation, there is still a very high chance of HLA matching being unsuccessful. It is therefore better to store the child's own cord blood sample.
- With twins, is it necessary to store both baby's cord blood? And what is required for multiple births?
- It is best to store each baby's sample individually which provides for either two identical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typed samples in the case of identical twins or two different HLA-typed samples which may be the case with non-identical twins. Multiple births will require the use of additional collection kits. PacifiCord offers special pricing for multiple births.
- Why is it important to choose a cord blood bank close to my home?
- There are a couple of factors. Studies have shown it is important to process and store your cord blood within 48-hours of collection. But sooner is better. Being in close proximity to our facility means we are better situated to accomplish this and our goal is to process the majority of samples within 24-hours of collection and avoid use of air transport which can be disrupted or delayed due to weather and other uncontrollable events. Have you ever experienced flight delays and lost luggage?
- What is the process for a cord blood collection for an adopted baby?
- Assuming that the adopting parents have a relationship with the birth mother prior to the birth of the adopted baby, the adopting parents would arrange with the delivering physician their plan for collecting the adopted baby's cord blood. The adopting parents would follow the same procedure as any other PacifiCord customer for enrollment, including bringing the PacifiCord Collection Kit to the hospital at the time of delivery.
- The possibility of finding a compatible cord blood sample is higher than that of bone marrow, should we donate our cord blood to a public cord blood bank?
- Donating cord blood for public use or storing it for your family's private use is a personal decision. There are certain requirements to donate publically including your health, whether your maternity hospital has a public cord blood donation program and the suitability of the sample after collection among other factors. More information can be found at: www.marrow.org.
- If the baby has an inherited genetic disorder, can his/her cord blood still be used in the future?
- At the present time, cord blood stem cells can be used to treat leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders. However, there are over 3,000 clinical trials word-wide that are researching the future applications of stem cells such as regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and, more specifically in this case, gene therapy. In the future, the baby's own stem cells may be modified and infused back into the body to treat genetic disorders without being rejected by the body's immune system since the cord blood stem cells are the child's own cord blood stem cells. If autologous (one's own) stem cells are not available or cannot be used, the best option for successful therapy is to secure stem cells from an HLA-matched sibling.
- How long can cord blood be stored?
- In a study performed by Hal E. Broxmeyer (PNAS, 2003), cord blood stored in liquid phase nitrogen (LN2) and left undisturbed has been shown to retain its therapeutic capabilities for 15 years. PacifiCord utilizes the BioArchive System® for cryopreservation and storage of cord blood. The BioArchive System®, is a computer-controlled, robotic liquid nitrogen cryopreservation and storage system that provides the only means to duplicate the conditions that were used in this study. However, it is important to note that very few studies have looked at the viability of cells after 15-20 years mainly because stem cells for clinical applications are a new frontier. As a result, a study performed by Albert D. Donnenberg notes that expiration dates cannot be set for stem cell components stored in liquid phase nitrogen (Cytotherapy, 2002). There are no studies that use vapor-based nitrogen.
- How do you freeze stem cells from room temperature to -196C?
- It is unbearable to hold an ice-cube in the hand for a few minutes, so imagine what damages will be caused when directly plunging into -196°C liquid nitrogen. Therefore freezing stem cells to -196°C must go through a well-calibrated controlled-rate freezing process. PacifiCord uses the BioArchive System® which is the world's leading system for cord blood stem cell freezing and storage. The BioArchive System® performs both the initial freezing and the long term storage of the cord blood without any human handling. The system is completely automatic and provides a report on the process providing evidence the sample was processed, frozen and stored properly.
- Does the hospital need to provide any materials for collection?
- No. You will receive a PacifiCord Collection Kit for your baby's cord blood stem cells. Your kit contains all the items your healthcare professional will need to collect your baby's cord blood. However, you must remember to take the collection kit with you to the hospital when you deliver.
- What will affect the collection volume of the cord blood?
- The volume of the cord blood collected depends on the thickness and the length of the umbilical cord plus the weight of the placenta and baby. It also depends on the course of delivery as the safety of the mother and the baby always come first. Collection technique is also an important factor. PacifiCord provides hospital staff and obstetricians with training on cord blood collection procedures.
- If the cord blood volume is low (<40g), can it still be banked?
- The cord blood can be banked even if the volume is low [successful transplantations of more than one cord blood samples have been reported]. Low volume does not always equate to low cell numbers which is an important factor for use in transplants. Also cell expansion and other scientific research are underway which may result in the ability to use smaller samples. There is also the new emerging area of regenerative medicine which utilizes a variety of different stem cells to possibly treat a whole array of diseases, injuries and conditions including, traumatic brain injury, corneal repair, cardiovascular disease and many others.
- What is the likelihood of ever using our baby's cord blood?
- When contemplating whether or not to bank your baby's cord blood, take into consideration not only the nearly 80 different diseases that can now be treated with cord blood stem cells today, but also think about the amazing potential of cord blood stem cells to prevent, treat and enhance your child's quality of life tomorrow. Thousands of cord blood transplants have been performed in the past few years and that number is expected to grow. If the cord blood stem cells are stored properly for future use, as is done by PacifiCord's state-of-the-art technology, and with the anticipated advances of cord blood stem cells involving prevention, treatment and quality of life, PacifiCord researchers estimate that there is an 80%+ chance of using cord blood stem cells in one's lifetime.
PacifiCord FAQs
- When should I enroll with PacifiCord?
- Because half of all babies arrive before their due date, it's best to decide early. While we strongly recommend making the decision during your second trimester, however, it's never too late in your pregnancy to enroll.
- How do I enroll with PacifiCord to save my baby's cord blood?
- We offer several methods of
enrollment for your convenience. Enrollment options include:
- In person: At our facility in Irvine, CA (by appointment) or a location convenient for you-such as your home or office (available to Southern California residents only).
- Phone: 1-888-379-2670 24/7.
- Online: www.PacifiCord.com
Upon enrollment, we will ship your baby's cord blood collection kit immediately.
- How much does banking my baby's cord blood cost?
- Your first year's investment
of $2300 includes:
1. A Sterile PacifiCord Collection Kit (100% inspected, FDA approved stem cell protectant, Heparin-free and convenient for cord blood collection for vaginal births and cesarean sections).
2. Premium cord blood stem cell processing with the AXP AutoXpress, known for the highest published cell recovery in the industry, saving more cells for your baby.
3. The first year of storage within the BioArchive, the industry's leading liquid nitrogen cryopreservation and storage system designed specifically for the storage of stem cells.Each subsequent year of storage is $150/year. Payment options and financing are available. We encourage you to speak with one of our representatives to learn more about The PacifiCord Difference: info@PacifiCord.com / 1.888.379.2670
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The collection method is fairly standard. A large majority of medical professionals are trained and have performed numerous cord blood collections for both public and family cord blood banks.
Prior to delivery of the placenta (in rare cases after the placenta is delivered), your healthcare professional cleans an area of the umbilical cord using an antiseptic solution. A needle is then inserted into the umbilical vein for collection into a blood bag. After 2-4 minutes, the umbilical vein is emptied and the blood bag is clamped, sealed and labeled.
- How does PacifiCord process cord blood?
- PacifiCord utilizes the AXP®
AutoXpress® to process its cord blood. The AXP
enables PacifiCord to provide its customers with unique
benefits and advantages over manual processing methods
which are used by most private family banks. For example,
The AXP is an automated and functionally closed system.
Each sample is processed individually and precisely in
order to separate precious stem cells from other contents
prior to storage. Additionally,the AXP enables PacifiCord
to achieve consistently high mononuclear cell (MNC) recoveries*--thereby
ensuring that your sample is frozen and stored with as
many stem cells as possible.
*Source: New York Blood Center (97.9% sd 4.9%). - What method of storage does PacifiCord use?
- PacifiCord utilizes the BioArchive® for cryopreservation, tracking and retrieval of its cord blood units. The BioArchive® is the industry's leading liquid nitrogen (LN2) cryopreservation and storage system for stem cell samples. PacifiCord, along with many of the world's leading public banks, use the BioArchive® because it offers distinct advantages over traditional systems used for cryopreservation and long term storage. Your sample will be secure and left undisturbed in liquid phase nitrogen until you need it. This is only possible with the BioArchive® because it robotically picks and places each sample individually.
- Who will pick up the cord blood after collection, how is it transported to PacifiCord?
- A unique benefit to choosing PacifiCord to process and store your cord blood is that we are local. While being local has many benefits to both you and your newborn's cord blood, one of them is that we are able to employ our own local service to pick up your cord blood unit and deliver it directly to our laboratory. From your bedside to our laboratory. How's that for peace of mind?
- Why does PacifiCord store cord blood in liquid nitrogen (LN2) versus using vapor?
- One of the most common questions asked is, "How long can my cells be stored?" Storage temperature is critical to the long term survival and viability of stem cells. All published studies on long term storage were done using liquid phase nitrogen. There are no published studies on effects of long term storage using vapor. Liquid phase storage is the best guarantee that your stem cells are being stored at the optimal temperature. It is why most of the world's leading public cord blood banks store in liquid, not vapor. The other key point is that your sample will be left undisturbed which is only possible through the use of robotics-a key feature of our storage system, the BioArchive.
- What testing is performed by PacifiCord?
- We test the maternal blood for specific infectious diseases. The cord blood is tested for sterility as well as the number and viability of the cells collected.
- Will I receive confirmation that my baby's cord blood was stored successfully?
- Yes. Once your baby's cord blood has been processed, you will receive a cell analysis report that details the total volume of blood collected, cell count and cell viability of your sample. You will also receive a unique number for the exact location of your sample in our BioArchive liquid nitrogen-based storage system. Should your baby ever need it, we are ready to provide it, wherever required.
- Where are my baby's cord blood stem cells stored and how do I know they are stored safely?
- Your baby's stem cells will
be stored at PacifiCord, located in Irvine, California
within our state-of-the-art facility that has been specifically
designed to withstand natural disasters, keeping your
baby's stem cells safe. It is also important to note that
Irvine, according to the FBI, has been recognized as one
of the safest cities in the United States. It's an ideal
environment for safely storing umbilical cord blood stem
cells.
PacifiCord is a single-story, structurally sound facility constructed of 6'' reinforced concrete. The building also includes a police response security system, emergency power back-up system along with automatic sprinkler and alarms in place. Additionally, PacifiCord's facility is monitored 24/7 with surveillance inside and outside of our laboratory, and access to the laboratory is restricted. What's more is that the laboratory is monitored 24 hours a day by a centralized, computer-based environmental monitoring system. All document files are backed up by both hard and soft copies, on and off site, and all client contracts and test reports are locked in a secure, restricted access document filing room.
The stem cells will be specifically stored within the BioArchive, the world's only liquid nitrogen system that was designed specifically for cord blood stem cells and used by over 80 cord blood banks worldwide. The BioArchive, constructed of fire-rate materials, also prevents Transient Warming Events, or temperature fluctuations that may occur with traditional vapor nitrogen tanks whenever a sample is added or removed. Due to PacifiCord's revolutionary BioArchive, tracking and retrieval system, your cord blood stem cell samples are secure and are left untouched and undisturbed until they are needed.
Parents can also have peace of mind that PacifiCord is FDA registered and inspected for cord blood stem cell processing and is compliant with all regulations. PacifiCord is also accredited by AABB, licensed by the State of California Department of Health, California Health and Safety Code, California Business and Professional Code and California Code of Regulations.
Rest assured, your baby's stem cells are stored safely with PacifiCord.
- The methods we employ have been published by the New York Blood Center, the world's largest and oldest public cord blood bank. They have the largest and longest running clinical study on using cord blood for bone marrow transplants.
- Does PacifiCord perform research?
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PacifiCord, in association with its parent company, HealthBanks Biotech, performs research on its own and in conjunction with accredited universities, hospitals and research organizations. For example, we work with:
UCLA on differentiation of stem cells-for neural cell induction for use in development of future therapies to treat disorders of the nervous system and brain including, Parkinson's Disease, ALS, strokes, and spinal cord injuries.
Johns Hopkins University in a research project to develop a cervical cancer protein vaccine.
Cell Stem Biotech Inc., USA in a research project to develop cell expansion technology of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells, for use in clinical transplant.
- What federal or state guidelines or regulations do you follow?
- We are licensed by the State of California Department of Health which requires us to comply with the current AABB standards for cell therapy, California Health and Safety Code, California Business and Professional Code and California Code of Regulations. We are registered with the FDA and are members of the Better Business Bureau and Irvine Chamber of Commerce.
- Is there a fee if the blood is ever needed for transplant?
- There is no charge to PacifiCord other than the cost to ship your cord blood unit where required.
- Is your company stable?
- Yes. PacifiCord is owned by HealthBanks Biotech, which is part of a 20 year old cell pharmaceutical company, who for over a decade has been leader in the collection and storage of cord blood. HealthBanks Biotech is privately owned, profitable company with offices in several countries. PacifiCord, along with HealthBanks Biotech, is proud of its heritage of high quality, financial stability and stem cell research and development.
Healthcare Professionals FAQs
- What is your process for expectant parents?
- We request that expecting parents enroll in their first or second trimester though it is possible to enroll right up until time of delivery. Upon enrollment, PacifiCord will mail the customer a PacifiCord Collection Kit (unless the customer received one of our kits from your office)-we encourage our customers to correspond with their healthcare professional/s regarding their plans for cord blood collection in advance of their delivery. Expecting parents are instructed to bring the cord blood collection kit with them to the hospital when they go into labor. The kit contains all of the required materials and instructions for the healthcare professional performing the cord blood collection following either a vaginal or cesarean birth. The process of collecting the cord blood is easy and takes about five minutes. Once the cord blood collection is complete, the PacifiCord customer is required to call PacifiCord to arrange the pick-up of their collected cord blood unit. PacifiCord will process the cord blood within 24-hours or less provided we are contacted within a short time after collection.
- Do you have a minimum amount of cord blood that must be collected?
- No. Cord blood volume does not necessarily correlate to cell count (TNC and MNC). As a result, PacifiCord will determine whether or not there are sufficient cord blood stem cells for storage upon cell analysis and inform the customer of all results.
- What is the medical professional's responsibility before, during, and after the procedure?
- Prior to the collection procedure, the medical professional would be responsible for ensuring that other medical professionals in your practice are aware that your patient will have their baby's cord blood collected. During the procedure the medical professional is responsible for collecting the cord blood. After the collection procedure, the medical professional is responsible for filling out the cord blood collection worksheet, packing and labeling the contents of the collection kit and returning it to the patient.
- What if, for medical reasons, collection of the cord blood is not possible?
- We inform our customers that the collection of their newborn's cord blood is performed solely at the discretion of their healthcare professional. We leave it up to the healthcare professional to determine whether or not it is safe for the cord blood to be collected.
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Does PacifiCord offer any training material or training courses to staff
that have not done cord blood collections? - Yes. We offer both training materials and training courses at your facility or at ours. For details, please call 1-888-379-CORD (2673) or email: info@PacifiCord.com.
- Do you have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service for questions?
- Yes. Please call 1-888-379-2670 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with any questions that arise.
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