Family Cord

For the review of Family Cord and the comparison with other cord blood banks go to our article about cord blood banking reviews where we compare these cord blood banks according diverse attributes. Also visit this article about the features that define a cord blood bank to be considered as the best in its kind.

Family Cord is a private stem cell banking facility enabled to store both umbilical cord blood and tissue.  American Academy of Pediatric recommends private banking of stem cells for families in which there is a high predisposition of occurrence of genetic conditions.  Also, families that use a sperm or age donor should practice private cord blood banking. Family Cord operates under stringent operating procedures that ensure high-quality collection, transport, processing and storage of stem cells.

It has been recognized years ago that umbilical cord blood represents a source enriched with hematopoietic stem cells.  This important characteristic of umbilical cord blood brought a revolution in the treatment of severe blood disorders.  Prior to the discovery of hematopoietic stem cells within the umbilical cord blood, the only cell-based treatment for serious medical conditions affecting blood was bone marrow transplantation, which was difficult to obtain and carried significant risks both for the donor and the patient.

During that time, umbilical cord was discarded as a medical waste, without any knowledge that this tissue offers a significant amount of stem cells that are perfectly capable of treating blood-related disorders including severe and congenital forms of anemia, leukemias and lymphomas.  After the first successful use of hematopoietic stem cells originating from umbilical cord blood, the scientific medical community was united in the recommendation that umbilical cord blood should not be discarded at birth, but stored within the specialized facilities for future use.

Cord Blood Banking in Family Cord

Family Cord contains a state-of-art facility for banking of stem cells originating from umbilical cord blood.  This tissue represents a perfect alternative for cell-based treatment of blood-related disorders including severe forms of anemia, leukemia and lymphoma.  Hematopoietic stem cells have been used for decades for the successful treatment of the above mentioned disorders.  By storing this powerful source of stem cells, the need for searching the donor of bone marrow tissue is completely eliminated.

Famiy Cord: Cord Tissue Banking

In addition to cord blood, Family Cord enables the clients to store umbilical cord tissue.  This biologic material has been proven to contain high amounts of mesenchymal stem cells that represent a different type of stem cells, used in the field of regenerative medicine.  Regenerative medicine is currently facing a rapid development and is focused on healing damaged tissues and organs without the need for other treatments.  Clinical trials are underway to investigate efficacy and safety of cell-based treatments in various conditions including diabetes, heart failure, stroke, autism and many other.  Storing umbilical cord tissue is beneficial for the families who wish to make mesenchymal stem cells available should a need arise, and also boosts the research and development of novel treatment modalities using this powerful healing tool.  It has been assessed that in the very recent future, physicians will be able to use mesenchymal stem cells to generate healthy tissues and organs available for replacement in individuals that suffered organ injury, thereby healing the disorder without the need for treatment.

Collection Kit From family Cord

Family Cord has developed a collection kit that enables maximum cell number, protection, and viability.  Thermal stabilizers within the collection kit ensure the stable temperature of the samples during the transport.  Additionally, specific kit design significantly reduces the risk of sample cross-contamination, which provides ultimate protection against the transmission of an infectious agent.  Collection bag is FDA approved.  The bag contains an FDA recommended anticoagulant, which ensures an adequate protection against blood clot formation within the sample, without the risk of jeopardizing the viability of stem cells.  Family Cord never uses heparin-based products within any of the processing steps due to the history of frequent drug recalls.  Reinforced case provides ultimate protection and heat isolation of sampled units.

Cord Tissue Plus AsThe Program From Family Cord

Cord Tissue Plus represents a innovative program for storing the mesenchymal stem cells originating form cord blood tissue.  This program has been accredited by AABB.  Family Cord provides the verification regarding the viability, quantity and quality of sampled mesenchymal stem cells.  Cord Tissue Plus is a program that isolates mesenchymal stem cells prior to cryopreservation into the dual-chamber bag.  The process involves extraction of stem cells from the umbilical cord tissue.  Stem cells are being extracted to a solution that ensures the maximum number of stem cells for future use.  Within each processing, a small sample of mesenchymal stem cells is being cultivated to verify the cell growth and viability.  The proof of cellular growth and viability is being photographed and provided to a family in a form of picture.

Family Cord Accreditations 

Family Cord is FDA approved facility for storing stem cells and compliant to rigid operational procedures recommended by this regulatory authority.  Family Cord is regularly inspected by the FDA in order to ensure the quality of processes that involve stem cell banking.  Additionally,  Family Cord is accredited by an international association that involves experts in the field of transfusion and cell-based therapies, known as AABB.  Family Cord is a member of Association of Family Cord Blood Banks.  This ensures that the samples are collected, processed, and stored within the highest contemporary standards regarding stem cell banking, enabling maximum efficacy and safety of stem cells used for future treatments.

Processing and Storage Of Stem Cell Banking in Family Cord

Family Cord has extensive experience in stem cell banking and is committed to the highest standards that consider preservation of cord blood and cord tissue.  Cord blood and tissue are being preserved in dual-chamber bags and all stem cells are stored in a ready-to-use treatment solutions which adds value to each collected sample.  Each sample is transferred to a cryogenic bag and stored in the liquid nitrogen.  The dual-chamber design enables multiple use of samples for treatment.

The storage facility is equipped with the latest technologies with the highest safety and security standards.  The samples are being monitored 24/7 which is essential for providing a proper storage environment for stem cells.  Additional power supply enables the facility to fully operate in case of power failure.  Additional nitrogen tank allows the constant liquid nitrogen supply to the facility which ensures the normal functioning without the need to refill the tanks for weeks.

Maximum security standards are established in order to provide ultimate protection of samples.  Magnetic locks are installed for all exterior door and interior zones, ensuring that only certified personnel may have an access to samples.  Facility is under constant video surveillance allowing the public access to be monitored 24/7.  No person can enter the facility without being visually confirmed by the receptionist.  Family Cord has has installed the latest fire protection systems including fire monitoring systems, sprinkler systems and dry-chemical fire protection systems.  Reinforced structural integrity of the building allows an ultimate protection against floods and earthquakes and perfect seismical stability.  All of the systems are in place in order to ensure the contemporary safety requirements and security standards with a final goal to provide the maximum protection of stored samples.