Private Banks in Central & South America

Click on a country or region to jump down to the complete list 

• Family banks in Brazil
  
• Family banks in other Latin American Countries

INTERNET: www.cordvida.com.br
PHONE: 800-707-CORD within Brazil, else +55-11-3094-2673 
OFFICE: São Paulo, Brazil
STORAGE: laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil

COMMENT: A private company founded by Brazilian physicians. The medical director is Cláudia Maggioni, MD. The founding medical director was Luiz Fernando Bouzas, MD, but he had to resign when he assumed leadership of Brazil's National Cancer Institute, INCA.  The founding scientific director was Lygia V. Pereira, PhD, Prof. Human Genetics at the University of São Paulo, but she has returned to university work.
Markets only to Brazil; website in Portugese and English.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Transportation from the hospital to the lab is carried by a CordVida courier who is with the blood at all times until it arrives at the lab.
• Cryogenic storage in a BioArchive robotic freezer from Thermogenesis. Storage bag is compartmented.
• Discounts offered for contracts signed before the 4th month (20%), before the 6th month (10%), or for long-term pre-paid storage: Ten years at 40% discount, 18 years at 49% discount. For twins, 50% off the second child.
• Charity program offers storage to poor families who have a child with cancer, in partnership with Brazil's Casa Hope, a non-profit organization on behalf of children with cancer.

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INTERNET: www.criogenesis.com.br
PHONE:  +55-11-7727-8189 (24 horas)
OFFICE: São Paulo, Brazil
STORAGE: laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil

COMMENT: A limited liability partnership owned by licensed medical professionals. The medical director is Nelson H. Tatsui, MD, a hematologist and member of “Fundação Pró-Sangue”, the blood bank at the University of São Paulo. Operates throughout Brazil; website in Portugese.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Criogênesis laboratory separates stem cells with automated system called "Optipress II"
• Transportation not included in contract.
• Discount on multiple births: each additional baby is 20% off, cumulative, from nominal fee, except storage (Ex: 1st-100%, 2nd-80%, 3rd-64%, etc!)

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INTERNET: www.cryogene.com.br
PHONE: +55 - 41 - 3014 - 3009
OFFICE: Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
STORAGE: Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.

COMMENT: Website in Portugese.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPITIONS:

• Office and laboratory are together in Curitiba, Brazil.
• Cryogene is not a subsidiary of another bank or company.
• Licensed by the Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria
• Cryogene is the first cord blood bank to serve the south of Brazil
• Cryogene has ISO 9001 quality accreditation
  
• Cord blood stem cells are partially separated by sedimentation.
  
• Contract includes shipping but not courier service.
• First year storage is included in processing fee.
• Discounts available for doctors or twins
  

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INTERNET: www.cryopraxis.com.br
PHONE: (++5521) 2141-7777,  800-606-7777
OFFICE: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

COMMENT:
Founders of Cryopraxis are Radovan Borojevic, MD, a professor at Rio's Federal University (UFRJ), Silvia Azevedo, MsC, and Simone Amaral, MBA.  The CEO is Eduardo Cruz.  Website in Portugese, Spanish, and English.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Cryopraxis sponsors research and clinical trials in cell therapy.
• Cryopraxis also offers  collection and storage of bone marrow, gammetes, and oocytes.
• As of June 2006, Cryopraxis claims a cord blood inventory of 8000 collections.

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INTERNET: www.hemocord.com.br
PHONE:  +55-51-3019-3450
OFFICE: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
STORAGE: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

COMMENT:
HemoCord is an independent company with its own laboratory in the south of Brazil.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPITIONS:

• HemoCord trains nurses who perform the cord blood collection.  Their trained staff are available in the main cities of the three states in the south of Brazil.
  
• Hemocord also provides courier transport to deliver the collected cord blood to their laboratory.
  
• The HemoCord procedure is to collect after delivery of the placenta, using bags, and to process and store the final collection in bags.  There are also small portions in vials for testing.
  
• The collection is processed to separate MonoNuclear Cells (MNC).
• Significant discounts are offered to medical professionals and parents who pay in advance.
• For twins there is 50% discount on the second baby.
• HemoCord is also involved in stem cell research.
  

 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Dra. Karolyn Sassi Ogliari founded HemoCord after working with the fertility clinic, Conception.

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INTERNET: www.necbbdobrasil.com
PHONE:  011 (55)-19-3262-0575
OFFICE: Campinas, Brazil
STORAGE: New England Cryogenic Center, Boston, MA

COMMENT: The American bank, New England Cord Blood Bank, has many international affiliates. Each one has exclusive rights to its country; all clients in that country must sign up with NECBB through the affiliate office. At present, all of these affiliates are shipping blood to the Boston lab for processing and storage.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPITIONS:

• An affiliate of the American company, New England Cord Blood Bank 
• Lab and storage at New England Cryogenic Center, Boston, MA .

 
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INTERNET: www.bancodecelulas.com
PHONE: Toll Free 01 8000 112991 or PBX 571-629-2991
OFFICE: Bogota, Colombia 
STORAGE: Bogota, Colombia 

COMMENTS:
Banco do Celulas Stem de Colombia is based in Colombia, and not a subsidiary of a foreign company.  Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Courier service by Ocasa Internacional included in contract.
• Processing method separates MNC by centrifuge, final storage in bag with two compartments.
• Laboratory accredited by ISO
• Website displays a Virtual Tour of the laboratory, visible from the reception area behind a glass wall.
• Price in the table is for 18 years of storage, other plans are available.
  
• Discounts of 10% to medical doctors and 7% for cash payments.
  

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INTERNET: www.bancodevida.com
PHONE: 591-3-344-8900
OFFICE: Santa Cruz, Bolivia
STORAGE: Santa Cruz, Bolivia

COMMENT: The first private cord blood bank in Bolivia.  Medical Director Dr. Carlos Fuchtner.  Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Full name "Banco Nacional de Celulas Madre de Bolivia"
  
• Banco de Vida is affiliated with the Instituto de Salud Reproductiva, which has 15 years of experience in assisted fertility medicine.
• Contract does not include shipping.
• Stem cells are separated by centrifuge, final storage can be either in a compartmented bag or in vials.
• First year storage included in price.
• Discount 50% for 20 years prepaid storage.
  

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INTERNET: www.biocells.com.ar
PHONE: +54 (11) 4373-3131
OFFICE:  Buenos Aires, Argentina
STORAGE:

COMMENTS:
Website in Spanish

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Médicos Recomendados por BioCells

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INTERNET: www.biocells.med.ec
PHONE: 1-800-BIOCELLS or 593-2-2250-178
OFFICE: Headquarters in Quito, Ecuador; 2nd office in Guayaquil
STORAGE: Quito, Ecuador

COMMENTS:
Biocells Discoveries is the first cord blood bank based in Ecuador.  It is financed by both American and Ecuadoran investors.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Courier service is provided by Biocells as part of the contract.
• Cord blood is processed within 24 hours of arrival at lab.
  
• Biocells procedure is to collect cord blood in bags but store in vials.
  
• The MonoNuclear Cells in the cord blood are separated completely by centrifuge.
• No enrollment fee, first year storage included in processing, discount for prepaid storage.

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INTERNET: www.cordonvital.com
PHONE: USA 011-52-(55) 5540-6141 
OFFICE:
STORAGE: USA (two locations: see below)

COMMENT: Serves as a direct outlet for two different American banks:

1. California Cryobank Inc. (storage: Santa Monica, CA)
2. Cord Blood Registry (storage: Tucson, AZ)

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS: In addition to the standard services of the banks, Cordon Vital Peru provides

• Transport my medical courier 365 days/year.
• 48 hour transit time from birth to lab.
• Local stock of original collection kits (bag or syringe method).
• Discounts for prepaid storage: CBR 18 years $1410; CalCryo 5 year $350, 10 year $600, 20 years $1000

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INTERNET: www.cryo-cell.com.mx
PHONE: 800-999-CRYO (2796)
OFFICE: headquarters Guadalajara, Mexico
STORAGE: laboratory Jalisco, Mexico

AFFILIATES:
Cryo-Cell Mexico has established affiliates throughout Central and South America

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• An affiliate of the Mexican company, Cryo-Cell Mexico
• Price listed includes transport by FedEx.
• First year storage included in processing fee.

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INTERNET: www.matercell.com; Email info@MaterCell.com
PHONE: 0800-444-6283 or 5411-4953-5030 (Lineas rotativas)
OFFICE: Buenos Aires, Argentina.

COMMENT: Currently has representatives throughout Argentina, further expansion planned. Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPITIONS:

• Laboratory certified ISO 9001-2000 by Bureau Quality International.
• Price does not include any shipping.
• First year of storage included in processing fee.
• Discount for 20 years storage prepaid.

 
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STORAGE: New England Cryogenic Center, Boston, MA

COMMENT: The American bank, New England Cord Blood Bank, has many international affiliates. Each one has exclusive rights to its country; all clients in that country must sign up with NECBB through the affiliate office. At present, all of these affiliates are shipping blood to the Boston lab of NECBB for processing and storage.

AFFILIATES:

Brasil: New England Cord Blood Bank do Brasil www.necbbdobrasil.com
Chile: Baby Cord - Banco de Cordón Umbilical de Chile www.babycord.cl
Peru: Banco de Cordón Umbilical de Peru www.bancodecordon.com.pe

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• An affiliate of the American company, New England Cord Blood Bank 
• Lab and storage at New England Cryogenic Center, Boston, MA .

 
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INTERNET: www.bsuprovida.com  
PHONE: 234-3431
OFFICE: Costa Rica

COMMENT: Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPITIONS:

• Directed by Eduardo Glenn, Ph.D., a microbiologist who received his degree at the Medical School of Hannover, Germany.

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INTERNET: www.redcord.net; Email redcord@conceptum.com  
PHONE: (571)616-44-42 or 01-8000-114442
OFFICE: Bogotá, Colombia

COMMENT: Redcord is a strictly private cord blood bank that is subsidiary of the fertility clinic Conceptum, which was founded 18 years ago and offers a full spectrum of fertility services to families in South America. Redcord uses a separate laboratory and their cord blood collections are carried by the courier Ocasa Internacional. Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Full name is Redcord S.A. de Colombia, Banco Nacional de Células Madre.
• The first private cord blood bank based in Columbia; located in Bogotá, Colombia.
• Stem cells are separated from cord blood by centrifugre. The laboratory is accredited by the Colombian agency INVIMA and has applied for ISO.
• Prices in Colombian Pesos are COP 900000 for enrollment and processing (382 US Dollars) and COP 365000 COP (140 US Dollars)for annual storage. The first year of storage is included in the starting price.
• Price includes courier transport by Ocasa Internacional, www.ocasa.com (website in English Spanish, Portugese)
• Discount available for prepaid long-term storage.

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INTERNET: www.vidacel.cl
PHONE: 562-224-7771
OFFICE: Santiago, Chile

COMMENT: The first private cord blood bank based in Chile. Managers are hematologist Dr. Alejandro Guillof  and obstetrician Dr. Alberto Costoya. Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• VidaCel is not a subsidiary of any other company, and is so far the only cord blood bank which processes and stores in Chile.
• Accredited by the Chilean Ministry of Health.  VidaCel hopes to also establish a public bank and research division.
  
• VidaCel laboratory separates MNC by overnight sedimentation, followed by one cycle centrifuge.
• Long-term storage is in compartmented bags.
  
• First year storage included in processing fee.
• Basic contract does not include shipping, but courier service can be arranged with LAN Airlines, with special transport instructions.
• Discounts for prepaid storage (Jan 2005): US $1220 for 10 years or US $2200 for 20 years.
  

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