LifeCell

About

LifeCell is one of India's oldest private cord blood banks, launched in 2005 with technology licensed from Cryo-Cell USA, and by 2011 has both the largest cord blood inventory and the largest network of offices among the banks in India. 

Labs and Locations

LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd.       
26, Vandalur Kelambakkam Main Road     
Keelakottaiyur, Chennai 600048 
India

Business Experience

LifeCell is one of India's oldest private cord blood banks, launched in 2005 with technology licensed from Cryo-Cell USA.  By Aug. 2011 LifeCell has achieved the largest cord blood inventory among the banks in India: over 40,000 collections.  LifeCell also has the largest network in India, with over 75 offices and affiliates in nearby countries.  LifeCell was honored in 2011 with an award as one of India's Most Promising Brands. 

MOST ACCREDITED – LifeCell is accredited by AABB (American Association of Blood Banks), CAP (College of American Pathologists), NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories). Other  standards held: USFDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) Registered, DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) Licensed for R&D, DCGI (Drug Control General Of India) Licensed, ICCBBA (International Council for Commonality In Blood Banking Automation) Registered, ISO (International Standards Organisation) Certified by DNV.
AWARDS – Most Promising Brands 2011 4P’s Business & Marketing.   

MOST SECURED – 3-Tier Security Architecture (Uninterrupted Power Supply, Diesel Generator and Bull Liquid Nitrogen Tank), Fire Proof with Automatic Sprinklers, Automated SMS and Email Alerts for early interventions, Compliance to Information Security Standards along with data recovery and high availability, Adequate Property & Fire Insurance wherein samples stored under cold storage are valued at over Rupees One Billion, Laboratory Information Management System with Bi-Directional and Bar Coded interface, Disaster Relief Protocols.

MOST TRUSTED –  Trusted by >40,000 families, Recommended by > 4,000 Obstetrics and Gynecologists performing collections in > 1000 Hospitals and Nursing Homes at over 80 Locations in India and abroad, 17 Retrievals for Transplants.

MOST INNOVATIVE – Technology to harvest Cord Blood Stem Cells, Cord Tissue/ Lining Stem Cells, Menstrual Blood Stem Cells and Dental Pulp Stem Cells.

Collection Kit

The LifeCell collection kit uses the Terumo Penpol 150 mL blood bag that is sterile both inside and out for use in the operating room during a C-section.  Supplies are provided for gravity collection of cord blood:  blood bag plus tubing and needle.  The supplies have a safety lock to avoid needle pricks and damages during collection.  Disinfection supplies included: 6 Alcohol Prep Pads, 1 set Sterile Gloves, 1 Sterile Sheet, 1 Iodine Swab.  The anti-coagulant is CPD.

Transportation Container

The LifeCell shipping container has Foam Bricks which maintain temperature for longer periods compared to Gel Packs.  The container is certified by the Indian Institute of Packaging and guaranteed to maintain room temperature for 72 hours.

Shipping Info:

LifeCell includes shipping within India in the contract base price; from outside the country shipping costs extra.  In some cases employees of the bank will pick up cord blood collections from partner hospitals.  Where needed to expedite shipments, medical courier service is provided, using a network of companies so that weekends and Holidays are still covered.

Processing Method

Cord blood processing is manually conducted by trained technicians who use the methods of sedimentation and spin to separate the component of the blood containing white cells and stem cells.

Components Stored

In addition to storing the stem cells, LifeCell also preserves a sample of maternal blood (in case it is needed for future testing) and 3 small testing portions of the cord blood.  Parents are provided with a certificate describing test results.

Storage Method

Final storage is in a multi-compartment cryo-bag encased in overwrap.  The bag is kept temporarily in a quarantine freezer, and after it clears infectious disease testing it is moved to a long-term freezer.  The freezer is kept cold with the vapor phase of cryogenic nitrogen.

Licensing & Accreditation

LifeCell laboratory holds many registrations, licenses, and accreditations:

AABB (American Association of Blood Banks)
CAP (College of American Pathologists)
DCGI (Drug Control General Of India)
DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research)
ICCBBA (International Council for Commonality In Blood Banking Automation)
ISO (International Standards Organisation)
NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories)
US FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration)

Clinical Experience

Number of family cord blood collections released for transplants - 22
Number of family cord blood collections released for autologous therapy - 2

In 2006, LifeCell launched a joint venture with Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (SRMC & RI) to set up India’s First Exclusive Stem Cell Transplant Centre at SRMC in Chennai.  The facility, taking up 15000 sq. ft., provides stem cell transplants conducted by transplant specialists from around the world.

In 2009, LifeCell launched an exclusive tie-up with Harvest Technologies to introduce a Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) system in India.  This technology allows a patient's bone marrow to be harvested and the stem cells extracted for therapeutoc use within 15 minutes at the bedside.  LifeCell and Harvest are using the BMAC in a clinical trial for patients who have Critical Limb Ischemia.

Guarantees

The family will receive a monetary amount in the event of a transplant or other stem cell therapy in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand INR.  The contract also carries engraftment insurance: if the cord blood is needed and fails to engraft, the patient will receive the closest matching unit in the public portion of the bank inventory.

Community Service

LifeCell gives FREE banking to families where an immediate relative has a diagnosis for which transplantation is standard therapy.  Discounts are given to military personnel and medical doctors.

Prices

• Total initial cost for enrollment + courier + processing + 1st storage fee: INR 36,000
• Annual storage fee: INR 2000
• Discounts for pre-paid storage and payment plans are both available.
• Another payment option is a low up-front fee followed by storage payments that are monthly instead of annually

Additional Services

LifeCell offers several additional services (prices in the table below):

• Newborn genetic testing
• Storage of umbilical cord tissue
• Storage of stem cells from menstrual blood (a unique technology licensed from Cryo-Cell)
• Storage of stem cells from baby teeth
  

Prices with Additional Services

 

Service Description	Period	Price
Baby Cord (Only cord Blood)	21 Years	INR 59,900
Baby Cord Duo 50M (50 Million Msc’s  from cord tissue@ retrieval at no extra cost)	21 Years	INR 74,900
Baby Cord Duo 500M (500 Million Msc’s @ retrieval at no extra cost)	21 Years	INR 79,900
Protect Baby Protect Mom (50Million Msc’s from Cord tissue and 150Million Msc’s from Menstrual Blood @ retrieval at no extra cost)	Cord Blood + Cord Tissue –     21 Years Menstrual Blood – Up to donor    age 60	INR 1,14,900