Family Bank: Protectia

About

Established in Argentina in 2008 and in Paraguay since 2015, Protectia is a family cord blood bank. It has become a leader in research in cord blood and tissue storage in Argentina, becoming the first bank in the country with its own scientific unit.

Labs and Locations

Protectia provides cord blood stem cell cryopreservation service. With two independent cryopreservation centers, one in Argentina and one in Paraguay, equipped with advanced technology, Protectia is positioned as the most committed stem cell bank in the field of research in the region.

Collection Kit

Protectia´s Collection Kit includes a sterile collection bag developed by Rivero, an Argentinian corporation. The sterile bag can be used both for vaginal births and C-section births. The bag is pre-filled with citrate phosphate dextrose (CPD), which is ANMAT approved as anti-coagulant and cell preservative. Once placed inside the collection kit for shipping, the bags are stored in a one-inch thick cooler with a gel pack in order to maintain the specified temperatures during transportation. Also, the kits come with a cord tissue receptacle, maternal blood tube, shipping labels and instructions.

Transportation container

Protectia´s premium collection kit has been designed according to the recommendations of the independent authority IATA Air Transport Standards. Priority was given to the correct preservation of samples, as well as resistance to infiltration or breakage. This collection kit can safeguard samples approximately 20 times longer than most other kits which are not insulated. This performance was confirmed through multiple tests under extreme temperature variations.

Shipping Info

Protectia has its own Courier system, we coordinate every pick up ourselves from any city in Argentina, as well as Paraguay. The service is available 24/7 and included in the service fee. We collect from over 200 medical centers in every province of Argentina, and ship to our laboratory with a collection and shipping successful rate of 96%.

Processing Method

Protectia Argentina and Protectia Paraguay use a validated processing method that combines a manual cell separation with sedimentation and spin known as the “Rubinstein method”.

Components Stored

The final component of blood that is stored contains white cells and stem cells.  Within weeks of collection, parents are provided with a lab report that includes the certificate of the many test and processing results, including the total stem cell counts cryopreserved and safeguarded at Protectia.

Protectia storage bags are designed with a double chamber in order to facilitate division in case of a transplant that requires a smaller sample. Attached to the bag we store three removable testing segments to use in the event of:

• New infectious agents are discovered and testing can prevent infectious stem cells from being transplanted to another family member.
• Genetic testing is needed on the mother or the child.
• If the child develops a debilitating disease and it is helpful to know if the disease was present in the mother or the child at birth.
• In case of mis-identification such as hospital errors or questionable lab results, tests can easily be conducted or repeated.

Storage Method

The cord blood is over-wrapped for extra protection against cross contamination during storage.  Samples are stored in the vapor phase of cryogenic nitrogen Final storage is in double compartment cryobag and the bag is encased in overwrap for an extra layer of protection against cross contamination. A technique called "controlled-rate freezing" is used to prepare the cells for long-term storage. The bag is then housed in a protective cassette and placed in a freezer in the vapor phase of cryogenic nitrogen for preservation, at a constant temperature below -180° Celsius. Leading scientist believe cord blood stem cells can be cryogenically stored indefinitely.

Licensing & Accreditation

• Authorization by the ministry of public health in Argentina.
• Authorization to operate as family stem cell bank
• Registered in the National Health Providers Registry
• Accredited by the Biochemistry College
• Certified by the National Environmental office
• ISO 9001:2015 certified by TÜV Reinhald
• Accredited by the cord blood stem cell family banks association (ABC Cordón)

Insurance

We are the first, and only, cord blood bank in Argentina to offer a quality assurance of USD 25.000 over our services. So that in the unlikely event of needing a new sample, families can acquire another one and repeat the treatment.

Community Service

• We offer a program called “Cordón Solidario” destined to help families with low incomes access private banking for free in cases where an immediate relative has a diagnosis for which transplantation is standard therapy.
• We also have a specialized team that offers free counselling to families about stem cell therapies and clinical trials.

Prices

Initial Payment includes: Enrollment, Premium collection kit, extractor´s fee, courier, processing, quality assurance and first year storage. We offer three different options and fees may vary. We also offer coverage by several Medical Insurance companies. Contact Protectia for current prices and promotions here.

Annual storage payment: We have the lowest storage fee in Argentina and in Paraguay. Cord blood and cord tissue storage USD231 + taxes, only cord blood storage USD154 + taxes. For further information on annual storage payment click here.

Additional Services

Protectia’s scientific research unit, with recognized local doctors and investigators, works towards the continuous development of scientific advances in stem cells treatments and applications. Protectia participates actively in research protocols both public and private doctors, with the support of local authorities and reknowned medical institutions.

Extra features offered by Protectia:

• A5 Plus: It’s an additional lab test that allows us to measure the real potential and viability of the cord blood sample by anexine V method.
• Quality Assurance: It’s USD 25.000 insurance of our service so that in the unlikely event of needing a new sample, families can acquire another one and repeat the treatment.
• Covered by Medical Insurance companies: Several insurance companies in Argentina are offering Protectia service to their members free of charge. We are the only bank that comes with this kind of support from medical insurers.
• Free shipping worldwide: In the event of having a treatment possibility, Protectia will cover all of the transportation costs to ship the cord blood from Argentina to anywhere in the world.