AlphaCord

About

AlphaCord is a network of processing and storage laboratories located throughout the country.   This company provides parents a choice of experienced labs at economical prices, and features 24/7 live customer service.

Labs and Locations

AlphaCord currently (Sept. 2012) offers 8 laboratories in 8 states. Several of these are public cord blood banks that operate to the highest standards and only offer family banking through AlphaCord. Below we name the laboratory in each state; a full spreadsheet of their operations and experience is available on the AlphaCord Compare Labs page.

AlphaCord Bank	Laboratory
Chicago, Illinois	ITxM
Colorado	U. of Colorado Cord Blood Bank at ClinImmune Labs
Florida	Lifeforce Cryobanks
Indiana	Cook General BioTechnology
Massachusetts	U.Mass. Memorial Medical Center
New Jersey	Community Blood Services
New York	New York Blood Center
Utah	Utah Cord Bank

Business Experience

AlphaCord began marketing the services of cord blood banking laboratories in 2002.  AlphaCord also offers cord tissue storage through their affiliate CoCells.  AlphaCord is a private company that has maintained financial stability without debt since inception, and has stored stem cells from tens of thousands of babies over the years.

Collection Kit

The AlphaCord collection kit is a 250cc blood bag that holds 35ml of CPD anti-coagulant and is ready to collect cord blood by the gravity method.  The bag is sterile and may be used in the operating room for a C-section delivery.

Transportation Container

AlphaCord reports that all collections transported to their labs in standard containers and received within 72 hours of birth contained viable cells.

Shipping Info:

Parents are provided with a collection kit that includes shipping labels and instructions. Contract pricing includes transportation by next day service, including Saturday delivery. Same day courier service is a discretionary option for the parents.

Processing Method

The various laboratories in the AlphaCord network have different processing procedures, levels of accreditation, and clinical experience with cord blood transplants. See the AlphaCord Compare Labs spreadsheet for more information.

Components Stored

Parents receive a Certificate of Storage that describes the cell counts, viability, and microbiology testing of the stored stem cells and other blood components.

Storage Method

All of the accredited laboratories store in blood bags; the Utah Cord Bank stores in multiple vials. Every laboratory has generator backups for electrical failures. Long term storage of AlphaCord clients is consolidated in tanks owned by AlphaCord, where the specimens are kept immersed in cryogenic nitrogen vapor.  The tanks are electronically monitored and have alarms in the unlikely event of any temperature deviations.

Licensing & Accreditation

• Please see the AlphaCord Compare Labs spreadsheet for details.
• Being a member of AABB is not the same as being accredited by AABB.
• Only public cord blood banks are eligible for NMDP membership.
• Mothers who will deliver in NJ/NY can only use a lab that is licensed in NJ/NY.

Clinical Experience

Please see the AlphaCord Compare Labs spreadsheet for details.

Prices

Current fees for each bank are available on the AlphaCord pricing page. Information is also available on promotions and payments plans.

Additional Services

AlphaCord offers the option to save cord tissue with their affiliate CoCells, a program of the Utah Cord Blood Bank.