Family Cord Blood Banks in Europe

INTERNET: www.activisionlife.com.pl; Email life@activision.com.pl   
PHONE: +48 (22) 8685-444 anytime
STORAGE: Lab and storage located in Warsaw, Poland, at the Marie Curie Oncology Center’s Dept. of Experimental Hematology, led by prof. Zygmunt Pojda

COMMENT: ActiVision Life SA an independent company offering cord blood services across the EU: Polish Headquarters are located in Warsaw, Poland and International Headquarters are located in Copenhagen, Denmark.   Website in Polish.

AFFILIATES:

• Denmark: Office in Copenhagen: ActiVision Life International AS; Tel. +45 4593 4047
• Lithuania: Office in Vilnius: ActiVision Life UAB; Tel. +370 5 279 6583 or +370 611 403 84
  

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Lab and storage are audited and approved by Ministry of Health and located in Warsaw, Poland, at the Marie Curie Oncology Center’s Dept. of Experimental Hematology.
• Website offers an  animated map which can be used to locate "partners" in each province of Poland. These are maternity hospitals whose staff have been trained by ActiVision Life and certified by the National Transfusion Services Centre in the collection of cord blood.
• Standard price of PLN 500 + PLN 1700 includes shipping by courier service from anywhere within Poland.  Shipping from any EU country costs up to 150 Euro extra, depending on the location.
• Annual storage is PLN 395.  Long-term storage discounts are PLN 1500 for 5 years, PLN 2500 for 10 years, and PLN 3500 for 17 years.
  
• Discount of 20% for healthcare employees, 10% for repeat customers and 20% for twins.
• At customer's request, stored cells can be divided into two portions prior to freezing.
  
• If a sibling has a disease that is treatable with stem cells, ActiVision Life provides services free of charge. As of May 2005, 54 children have banked cord blood under this charity program
• As of Oct 2005, currency exchanges of Polish Zlotys are approx.  $1:3.80PLN or 1Euro:4.2PLN

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INTERNET: SEE  AFFILIATES  LIST
STORAGE: New England Cryogenic Center, Boston, MA.

COMMENT:
BabyCord is a brand name for international affiliates for the New England Cryogenic Center.  The exact name and web address of the bank may vary from one country to another.

AFFILIATES:

• Cyprus: Baby Cord of Cyprus www.babycordcyprus.com
• Turkey:  Babycord of Turkey www.babycordturkey.com

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The processing fee includes shipping costs and the first year of storage.
• 
  

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INTERNET: www.bioinst.com
PHONE: +378 0549 909905 or +378 338 2157943
OFFICE + STORAGE: Falciano, Republic of San Marino

COMMENT:
Bioscience Institute is an independent company which owns a stem cell lab and research center in San Marino.  They are licensed to receive and send cord blood throughout the EU.  Website in Italian, English, German, French and Spanish.

CORD BLOOD SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Bioscience Institute operates in a glass enclosed laboratory where visitors can observe operations in person or on-line via webcam.
• They have a group of experts and biologists on-call and offer parents a free consultation.
• Bioscience Institute provide a sterile collection kit with extra disinfection supplies.  The blood bag already contains anti-coagulant.
• Bioscience Institute shipping container is thermally insulated and pressurized to keep the blood close to room temperature. 
  
• The contract includes courier service from anywhere within Italy or the EU.
  
• Bioscience Institute processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use. 
• Bioscience Institute laboratory is certified GMP and accredited under ISO 9001:2000
• Once cord blood is frozen, it is stored in a quarantine tank. Those collections which pass infectious disease testing go into long term storage.
• Long term storage tanks are filled with the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen.
• Standard fees are (Sept 2009)  €200 (collection kit-bag) + €1800 (after processing).
  
• Processing fee includes the first year of storage, after it is €50 per year for twenty years or more.
• Finance plans are available through banks.
• Discount for sibling €500, discount for twins 50% off 2nd child.
• Bioscience contract includes newborn screening from PerkinElmer to identify more than 50 metabolic and inherited disorders.  
• In the event that the stem cells are needed by the child who banked, Bioscience Institute insures parents up to € 20.000,00 to cover expenses not paid by the public health authority.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Bioscience Institute is a partner of  INBB (www.inbb.it), an Italian scientific and medical Inter-University Consortium.
• Bioscience Institute has research partnerships pursuing cord blood expansion, cord blood treatment of myocardial infarction, fibroblast culture engineering tissue.
• Bioscience Institute stores only adult stem cells and has never been, and does not intend to become, involved in the storage or expansion of embryonic stem cells.

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INTERNET: www.biohramba.si  or  info@biohramba.si
PHONE: +386 1 300 59 73 or 080 29 00 (toll free for calls from Slovenia)
OFFICE + STORAGE: Ljubljana, Slovenia

COMMENT:
BPK is the first cord blood bank in Slovenia.  Website in local language.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• BPK sends cord blood to the laboratory of the national transfusion center in Slovenia (‘Zavod RS za transfuzijsko medicino’ or ZTM). This laboratory also operates a public cord blood bank and carries ISO 9001:2000 accreditation.
  
• Collection protocol is to cut and clamp the cord and collect by gravity drip into a blood bag.
• BPK contract covers courier transport with a data logger to track temperature.
• BPK have a group of experts on-call and offer parents a free consultation with a physician.
  
• At present BPK is storing whole blood, but by 2009 the lab will acquire a Sepax automated processing system.
• BPK processing fee includes 22 years of storage.
• Final storage is in the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen.
• Price is €250 enrollment + €1240 processing + 20% VAT, so the total is €1788.
• Twins discount of 50% on the second child.
• If cord blood must be claimed from the bank, BPK will deliver it within 4 hours in Ljubljana, within 24 hours in Slovenia, and within 48 hours anywhere else in Europe.  It is also possible to deliver outside Europe.
• If cord blood cannot be collected (due to birth complications), the advance payment will be returned.
• If cord blood is collected but upon testing is deemed not fit for long term storage (for example, due to contamination), only the incurred costs will be charged.
  

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INTERNET: www.celvitae.es
PHONE: +34 902 00 65 50
OFFICE: Madrid, España (Spain)
STORAGE: Hospital MD Anderson Internacional España in Madrid

COMMENT:
Banco de Células Madre de Sangre de Cordón Umbilical, also known as Celvitae - España, is an independent company which serves clients in Spain.  Website in Spanish.

CORD BLOOD SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Celvitae collection kit relies on gravity collection into a bag.
  
• Celvitae provides personal courier service as part of their contract.
• Celvitae storage container is a cooler, not a box with gel packs, and it is maintained at 8 degrees C.
  
• Celvitae processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use. 
• Celvitae endavors to follow the procedures of Netcord but is not accredited by them because they are not a public bank.  However, Celvitae does carry ISO 17025 accreditation for calibration and testing laboratories.
• In addition to storing the separated MonoNuclear Cells, which includes the stem cells, Celvitae stores the other separated components of the cord blood, which are the "buffy" coat and the plasma.
  
• Final storage is in liquid nitrogen tanks.
• Storage fee is only charged once, not annually.
  
• Discount programs available.
  
• Celvitae Scientific and Medical Advisors are listed on their website.
• Celvitae also serves clients who wish to store adult stem cells.
• Celvitae collaborates with institutions such as Foro Español de las Familia (www.forofamilia.org), Fundacion + Familia (www.masfamilia.org), and others.
  

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Copygene (www.copygene.com) of København (Copenhagen) Denmark, has been purchased by Stemcare of Copenhagen, Denmark.

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INTERNET: www.cordbloodcenter.com
PHONE / OFFICE:
Czech Republic: +420 532 191 595
Hungary: +36 40 620 520
Romania: +40 264 444 442, +40 264 441 039
Slovak Republic: +421 2 5465 02 02
STORAGE: Processing facilities which are licensed under local regulation are available in Romania (Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest), Slovak Republic (Eurocord-Slovakia lab), and Czech Republic.

COMMENT:
Cord Blood Center (CBC) group companies were established and are run by medical and cryobiology experts from Eurocord-Slovakia. CBC began private cord blood banking in 2003. Cord Blood Center either markets services of Eurocord-Slovakia or uses their own laboratories.  Website languages Arabic, CZ, EN, HU, RO, RU, SK.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• CBC prefers collection by gravity, into bags, before delivery of the placenta.
• CBC collection kits are available at some hospitals or can be shipped to the mother.  The kit contains a temperature logger.
  
• Shipping is always included in the contract, but depending on location there may be extra fees.
• CBC stores whole blood.
• Final storage is in 1 or 2 cryo-bags with at least 1 aliquot attached and 4 separated aliquots for testing.
• CBC pricing policy is to charge for enrollment and processing independent of storage fees.  Storage fees are always charged annually.
• As of April 2010, processing fees are 850 Euro or less, and annual storage is 49 Euro or less.
• In Romania, discounts are given to medical professionals: 100% for gynecologists, 10-30% for professionals in other medical specialties.
  
• Discount for twins is 10% and discount for returning clients is 20%.
  
• If the cord blood collection was contaminated or fails quality control, parents receive a full refund.
• If the cord blood collection is not sufficient for a transplant, parents have the choice of a discount or a refund (excluding any extra transport fees). 
• Charity program: In some countries, if a sibling has a disease which may require transplantation, CBC provides banking free of charge.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
CBC RO performed the very first cord blood collection in Romania.  In 2005, experts from CBC helped establish a public bone marrow registry in UAE. 

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INTERNET:  www.crioestaminal.pt
PHONE: +351 239 700 377
OFFICE: Coimbra, Portugal
STORAGE: Instituto Pedro Nunes, Coimbra, Portugal

COMMENT:
Crioestaminal operates their own laboratory ina clean room.
Website in Portugese and English

CORD BLOOD SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Crioestaminal - Saúde e Tecnologia, SA was created in June 2003 and is a public limited company.
• Crioestaminal was formerly a marketing outlet for Cryo-Save between July 2003 to June 2006.  In summer 2006 they began to operate their own laboratory in a clean room.
• Crioestaminal operates in the scientific facility Instituto Pedro Nunes.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Crioestaminal is one of the founding members of Cord Blood Europe.


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INTERNET:  www.cryobankturkey.com
STORAGE: Lab and storage in Santa Monica, California

COMMENT: An affiliate of the American Company, California Cryobank

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INTERNET: www.cryomedica.com; Email info@cryomedica.com  
PHONE: 011 7 095 139-4871
OFFICE: Russia; exact location confidential for security reasons
STORAGE: Russia; exact location confidential for security reasons

COMMENT:

• First private cord blood bank in the Russian Federation. 
• Provides banking throughout Russian speaking regions; delivery within 24 hours guaranteed for any major Russian Federation city. Stores in multiple Nunc[tm] cryovials.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Cryomedica is a registered Russian Federation company and not a subsidiary of any other company.
• Courier services and first year of storage are included in processing fees. Annual storage fee of 150 US dollars is equivalent to paying $100 at a United States cord blood bank, plus 20% VAT, plus 5% local sales tax. Option to pre-pay processing plus storage for 15 years at a 25% discount.

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INTERNET: www.cryo-save.com  
PHONE:  +41 55 420 40 03
OFFICE: Cryo-Save Group AG in Pfäffikon SZ, Switzerland
STORAGE: Laboratory in Niel, Belgium
As of early 2005, a second portion of the processed cord blood is stored in a secret location in the Netherlands.

COMMENT:

• Cryo-Save is the largest private/family cord blood bank in Europe
  
• The Cryo-Save laboratory in Belgium serves numerous European marketing affiliates.
• Cryo-Save Group NV is a publicly held company, listed on the London stock exchange.
  

AFFILIATES: Cryo-Save has numerous international affiliates, with websites available in a rainbow of languages. These affiliates are licensed by Cryo-Save, which means they receive training and technologies, but they are free to set their own pricing and marketing. 

• Albania: Cryo-Save Balcanica Ltd. www.cryo-save.com/albania
  
• Austria: Cryo-Save Stammzelltechnologie GmbH  www.cryo-save.com/osterreich
• Belgium: Cryo-Save Labs (headquarters) www.cryo-save.com/belgique(French) or www.cryo-save.com/belgie (Dutch)
• Bulgaria: Cryo-Save Bulgaria www.cryo-save-bulgaria.com
• Croatia: Cryo-Save Balcanica Ltd.  www.cryo-save.com/croatia
• Cyprus: Renaissance Cryo-Preservation and Health Care Ltd.  www.cryo-save.com/cyprus
• Czechoslavakia: ArchivBunek www.archivbunek.cz
• Germany: Cryo-Save GmbH  www.cryo-save.com/deutschland
• Greece: Cryo-Save Balcanica Ltd. www.cryo-save.com/greece
• Hungary: Sejtbank www.sejtbank.com
• Iran: Fanavari Salamati (Health Tech) Int. Co.Ltd. www.healthtechco.com  (see also Middle East)
• Israel: Cryo-Cell Israel www.cci.co.il (see also Middle East)
• Italy: Cryo-Save Italia www.cryo-save.com/italy
• Lebanon: www.cryo-save.com/lebanon
• Macedonia: Bi-Mek Ltd. www.cryo-save.com/macedonia
• Malta: Future Cells Ltd. www.cryo-save.com/malta
  
• Netherlands: Cryo-Save Group N.V. www.cryo-save.com/nederland
• Norway: Vigdis Maurveg www.cryo-save.com/norway
• Poland: Cryo-Save Polska: www.cryo-save.com/poland
• Portugal: Cryo-Save Portugal  www.cryo-save.com/portugal
• Romania: Life-Renaissance Srl www.cryo-save.com/romania
  
• Serbia: Life R.F. d.o.o  www.cryo-save.com/serbia
  
• Slovenia: Neocelica d.o.o. www.neocelica.si
• South Africa: Cryo-Save (SA) www.cryo-save.co.za 
• Spain: Cryo-Save Espana  www.cryo-save.com/spain
  
• Sweden: Vigdis Maurveg www.cryo-save.com/sweden
• Switzerland: www.cryo-save..com/schweiz (German) or www.cryo-save.com/suisse (French) or www.cryo-save.com/svizzera (Italian)
• United Arab Emirates: Cryo-Save Arabia www.cryo-save.com/uae (see also Middle East)
• United Kingdom: Cells Limited  www.cellslimited.com (see also UK)
  

  

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Prices listed in the summary table represent a direct contract with Belgium from Germany.
• Since October 2007 Cryo-Save adopted automated laboratory processing to replace human handling; this reduces possible contamination and increases laboratory capacity. 
  
• Cryo-Save processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use.
• Cryo-Save storage divides the final stem cell sample into two blood bags. 
  
• The bags are split between two locations: the laboratory in Niel, Belgium, and a secret storage location in The Netherlands. 
• Cryo-Save operates a charity program offering free banking if a first degree relative of the baby has a medical diagnosis which is currently treatable with stem cells. Parents should contact Cryo-Save for more information.
• As of Dec. 2009, Cryo-Save claims to have 120,000  cord blood collections in storage.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Originally, the Cryo-Save laboratory in Belgium was an affiliate of the American bank Cryo-Cell International in Clearwater, Florida.  The name change, from Cryo-Cell to Cryo-Save, dates to 19Sept2003, and reflected a legal dispute in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial District in the state of Florida.  As of 17Feb2004, both parties entered into an amicable settlement. 

During 2004-2006, Cryo-Save also marketed autologous storage of adult stem cells, through its "Cryo-Life" division.  Cryo-Save announced 30 January 2007 that they will also provide public cord blood storage under contract to the Italian non-profit health foundation Osidea.

Prior to 2007, Cryo-Save processed cord blood by centrifuge spinning to separate MonoNuclear Cells.  Cells separated in this manner have a small final volume and were stored in vials, typically four per collection, split between the two storage locations.  In 2007, Cryo-Save switched to final storage in two bags.

Cryo-Save became part of the European holding company, Life-Sciences Group NV, and on 6Nov2007 went public as Cryo-Save Group NV.  As of  22Oct2009 they also are listed on the NYSE in Amsterdam.  Since going public, Cryo-Save Group has acquired or launched other cord blood banks:

• 31 Jan. 2008: Acquisition Sejtbank Hungary
• 13 Mar. 2008: Launch Cryo-Save India
• 08 Jul. 2008: Acquisition Crio-Cord Spain
• 22 Jul. 2008: Acquisition Cryo-Save Balcanica Greece
• 14 Jul. 2009: Acquisition Salus Futura, UK / Italy (service provider)

Cryo-Save has the largest inventory of private/family cord blood storage in Europe, and they claim to hold a 50% share of the European market.  The Cryo-Save Group has never been, and does not intend to become, involved in the storage or expansion of embryonic stem cells.  Cryo-Save Group is a founding member of the International Tissue Engineering Research Association, an international scientific and medical consortium.  Cryo-Save is also the leading founder of Cord Blood Europe.

In Sept 2009, Cryo-Save moved from their laboratory in Mechelen Belgium to a brand new one in Niel Belgium.

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INTERNET: www.eticur.de; Email info@eticur.de
PHONE: +49-(0)89-12 59 81-0 or (toll free within Germany) 0800-0-384287
OFFICE: Munich-Martinsried, Germany
STORAGE: Stem cell bank at the University Hospital of Erlangen

COMMENT:

• The name "eticur" is a contraction of the words "ethice + cura" (Latin for "Ethics + Healing").
• eticur) is affiliated with the Department for Transfusion Medicine and Heamatology of the University of Erlangen, where all stem cells are processed and samples are stored.
• Website in German.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Registered with the German Dept of Health as of Nov. 2004.
• Covering over 520 maternity clinics throughout Germany (May 2009)
• The University Hospital Erlangen has operated a public cord blood bank for some time, registered on the “Zentrales Knochenmarkspender Register Deutschland” (ZKRD)
• eticur) is the only German company which offers – in cooperation with the blood bank of the University Hospital Erlangen -  all three cord blood storage options:
        1) private cord blood banking for your own child or family.
        2) public donation of cord blood for patients in need of transplant, free of charge for the donor.
        3) combination of both alternatives: private and public.
  
• Stem cells are separated according to the protocol developed by Dr. Rubinstein at the NY Blood Center.
• Final storage of processed cells is in two bags and two separate nitrogen-tanks
• Blood from the mother and baby is simultaneously tested for infections (including direct virus detection by PCR)  
• Viability of the stem cells is routinely tested by cell cultures (colony  performing assay) before and after the freezing process.
• HLA-typing is routinely performed on all collections.
• For private cord blood banking, all-inclusive fee of EUR 2400 covers registration, processing, and 21 years storage.
• Price for twins is EUR 3800.  For siblings there is a discount of EUR 150.
• Attractive financing options are available.
• Autologous storage is FREE if the unborn child has the heart defect “Tetralogy of Fallot”.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• In January 2009,  the Department for Transfusion Medicine and Hematology of the University of Erlangen became the largest cord blood bank in the state of Bavaria
• In May 2009 Prof. Eckstein, the Director of the blood bank in Erlangen, was appointed to be President of the German Society of Transfusion Medicine and  Immunohematology (DGTI)
•  Scientific collaborations include the Clinic of Cardiac Surgery of the University of Munich: Regeneration of autologous heart valves (Tissue engineering)

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INTERNET: www.eurocord.sk
PHONE: 00 421 2 5465 0202
OFFICE: Bratislava, Slovak Republic
STORAGE: Slovak Republic

COMMENT:
Eurocord-Slovakia is both a public and private cord blood bank operating its own laboratory.  Public cord blood banking begun in 1999 and donations are listed on the BMDW registry.  Eurocord-Slovakia is also a member of WMDA and Associated member of NetCord.  Since 2001 Eurocord-Slovakia provides private cord blood banking for families, both directly and through Affiliate companies.  Eurocord-Slovakia provided cord blood for the first autologous use in the EU in 2004.

AFFILIATES:
Eurocord-Slovakia closely cooperates with these private companies to serve parents throughout the Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and other European countries.  Web pages are available in many languages.

• Ceptra:  www.ceptra.com
• Cord Blood Center: www.cordbloodcenter.com   +421 905 373941

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Eurocord-Slovakia is certified by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.
• Eurocord - Slovakia has supplied cord blood for 7 transplants: 1 autologous, 1 sibling allogenic, and 5 unrelated allogenic. In addition the facility processes bone marrow stems cells for pediatric patients in Slovakia.
• Shipping is included in the cost of the contract.
• As of April 2010, processing fees are 850 Euro or less, and annual storage is 49 Euro or less.
• If the cord blood collection was contaminated or fails quality control, parents receive a full refund.
• If the cord blood collection is not sufficient for a transplant, parents have the choice of a discount or a refund.
• Discounts available for twins or returning clients.
  
• Charity program: If a sibling has a disease which may require transplantation, Eurocord-Slovakia provides banking free of charge. 
  

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INTERNET: www.floramed.ru; Email info@floramed.ru  
PHONE: +7 (095) 234-5885

COMMENT: Website in Russian.

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INTERNET: www.futurehealth.co.uk; or Email info@futurehealth.co.uk
PHONE: +44 115 967 7707
OFFICE: UK / EU headquarters in Nottingham, England
STORAGE: Nottingham Science and Technology Park, a technology incubator next to the University of Nottingham, Nottingham UK.  Future Health laboratory holds the following accreditations:

• UK Human Tissue Authority (HTA) License 11058 (1 Sept 2006)
• UK HTA Renewal License 22503 (2 April 2008, expires April 2011)
• ISO 9001: Certificate number- FS 554566
  

COMMENT: Future Health holds a full HTA License and their cord blood may be legally used at any hospital within the EU; either for the donor, the donor's family, or an unrelated person.  Website in multiple languages.

AFFILIATES:

• Cyprus: +357 22 671700 or info@futurehealth.co.uk
• Greece:  +302 106003030 or info@futurehealth.co.uk
• Ireland: +353 12014900 or  info@medicare.ie
• Italy: +39 06 9025161 or infoitalia@futurehealth.co.uk
  
• Jordan: +962 6 4622301 or info-me@futurehealth.co.uk
• Kuwait: + 965 99470865 or info@futurehealth.co.uk
• Lebanon: +961 44 00 458 or info@futurehealth.co.uk
• Macedonia: + 389 23 298 782 or info@futurehealth.co.uk
• Portugal: +351 962134647 or info@futurehealth.pt
  
• Saudi Arabia: +966 1479 3000 or info-ksa@futurehealth.co.uk
• Serbia: +381 11 303 4400 or info@futurehealth.co.uk
• Spain: +34 93 280 6184 or info@futurehealth.es
• Switzerland: +41 22 8394446 or info@futurehealth.co.uk  
• Syria: +963 11 4646 273 or info@futurehealth.co.uk
• UAE: +971 501 416121 or info-me@futurehealth.co.uk

CORD BLOOD BANKING SERVICES:

• Collection bag is custom-designed and already contains CPD anti-coagulant.  Individual aluminum sterile packaging with two needles for increased safety. Needles have increased diameter to maximize the volume collected.
• The timing of the collection, whether before or after delivery of the placenta, is at the discretion of the healthcare professional.
• Future Health base price includes shipping.
• All shipping containers are carried by medical couriers (in most countries this is DHL).
• The cord blood and the cord tissue are transported in a fully accredited thermal shipping box for protection against adverse temperature conditions (ΙΑΤΑ και UN3373) by couriers approved for medical samples. The proprietary transportation box was designed by Future Health. 
  
• The transportation system was tested and accredited by the independent agency Institut Belge de l’Emabllage sprl, which tests packaging for compliance with I.A.T.A. regulations.  Accreditation number: P1 650 Conform DHL / IBE G-07.004
• Maternal blood tests are conducted with PCR (NAT) testing.
• Processing is conducted in sterile Clean Rooms in laboratories owned by Future Health (grade B Clean Rooms & grade A laminar flow work areas)
• Future Health processing method is the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use. 
• Cord blood collections pass through testing for contamination, quality, cell counts and viability.
• If the cord blood fails quality control, there is no charge for processing.
• Final storage is in a bag with multiple compartments plus testing segments.
• Future Health saves all the components of cord blood, not just the stem cells, in order to cover all possibilities of future use. They also store samples of red blood cells and plasma. These samples can be used for future testing, diagnostic purposes, tissue typing (histocompatibility testing) or any other future medical use without disturbing the main sample.
• The freezer tanks, called "dewars", are filled with the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen.
• Before being placed in the freezer tanks the blood bags receive a secondary protective overwrap bag, which is designed to prevent any cross-contamination between collections in the tank.
  
• Each cord blood collection is placed in a metal outer storage canister for enhanced mechanical protection, with a metallic bar coded identification label.
• The initial 6 months of storage are spent in a quarantine tank.  These multiple precautions against contamination ensure that the cord blood is safe for use by an unrelated donor.
• The freezer tanks are capable of operating without electricity and there is 24/7 recording of storage condition parameters.
• The laboratory is protected by a 24/7 security system and security personnel on site.
• Private client information is handled according to the UK Data Protection Act
• Future Health offers EU families the choice of annual storage payments or a 20 year contract.
• Discount of 20% processing and storage fees for returning customers; twin discount 50% on 2nd child.
• As of Dec. 2009, Future Health claims an inventory of over 27,000 cord blood collections.
• Future Health is one of the founding members of Cord Blood Europe.

CORD TISSUE BANKING SERVICES:

• Future Health is the first and to date (March 2010) only UK Human Tissue Bank to offer a service to collect and store cord tissue as well as cord blood. 
• Future Health only offers cord tissue storage with cord blood service.  The collection kit and storage fee are only charged once for the combined service.
• The tissue of the umbilical cord, which doctors call "Wharton's Jelly" is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), a cell type which is common in bone marrow but hard to obtain from cord blood.
• MSC have great potential in the field of regenerative medicine because they can differentiate to form tissues such as bone, cartilage, tendon or muscle.
• Clinical trials with MSC are exploring their use to suppress GvHD, treat heart attacks, and treat mutliple sclerosis.
• Optimal methods of processing and storing MSC are an area of ongoing research. 
  
• FutureHealth offers these options for cord tissue preservation:

1. Minimal Manipulation: freeze a section of the cord a few cm long. 
2. MSC extraction and cryopreservation.
3. MSC extraction, expansion, and cryopreservation. (not commercially available yet)
   

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INTERNET: www.gemabank.ru ; Email gemabank@gemabank.ru
PHONE: +7 (095) 901-9170
OFFICE: Moscow at the Russian Cancer Research Center
STORAGE: laboratory and storage located in Moscow at the Russian Cancer Research Center

COMMENT: Gemabank is a privately owned company. Website in Russian.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The Russian Cancer Research Center has over 20 years experience in cryopreserving stem cells from blood and has performed successful transplantations.
• Stem cells are processed by fractionation, followed by centrifuge separation.
• Final storage is in cryogenic containers belonging to the Russian Cancer Research Center.
• Price does not include shipping, but courier service is available upon request for an additional cost.
• The initial $250 is a non-refundable cost to cover the collection kit and adminitrative fees, but the remainder will be returned if the collection is not successful. Payments can be made over 6 months with no interest charged.
• Discounts offered to parents that have children with cancer (10%) or a multiple pregnancy (10%).

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INTERNET: www.genkord.com; Email genkord@genkord.com
PHONE: (0212) 210 41 06
OFFICE: several cities in Turkey; on the European side of Ýstanbul, Turkey.
STORAGE: Laboratory and storage in several cities in Turkey; on the European side of Ýstanbul, Turkey. The laboratory has ISO 9001:2000 quality certification, and QMS Certificate by TSE (Turkish Standards Institute).

COMMENT:

• GenKord is an independent company; they conduct both cord blood storage and stem cell research.
• Genkord is a partner with BIYOMEDTEK, an alliance of biotechnology companies and Hacettepe University in Ankara. This alliance is supported by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey). Website in Turkish and some English.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The medical director of GenKord is immunologist Dr. Gülderen Yanikkaya Demirel.
• Price includes shipping by a nationwide courier service so that blood is delivered to the laboratory within 24 hours.
• Parents have the choice of storing whole blood or separated MNCs (fees differ).
• Genkord processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use.
  
• Price includes VAT. Discount available for 15 years prepaid storage.

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INTERNET: www.hemafund.com; or Email office@hemafund.com
PHONE: +380 (44) 240 6827  (24/7)
OFFICE: Kiev, Ukraine
STORAGE: Kiev, Ukraine

COMMENT:  Hemafund is not a subsidiary of another cord blood bank or cryogenic lab.  Website in Russian.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Contract includes private courier service.
• Laboratory processing uses sedimentation followed by centrifuge.
• First three years of storage are included in base price.
• Discount price $2400 for enrollment plus 18 years storage.
• Discount 20% to parents who have a child with cancer and 25% for multiple pregnancy.
  

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INTERNET: www.imunolita.lt
PHONE:  see list below
OFFICE: Vilnius, Lithuania & Riga, Latvia
STORAGE: Laboratory location Linkmenu 28, Vilnius, Lithuania.

COMMENT:
JSC Imunolita is a private company which provides both stem cell storage and stem cell research services throughout the Baltic countries.    In addition to cord blood stem cells, they store stem cells derived from bone marrow or adipose tissue (fat). 

CONTACT  PHONE  NUMBERS:

• Vilnius: +370 5 272 90 48; +370 6 149 79 59
  
• Kaunas: +370 6 180 06 59
• Riga: +371 2 668 21 19 +371 6 754 40 84

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• JSC ”Imunolita” is licensed by the national “State Health Care Accreditation Agency under the Ministry of Health of Republic of Lithuania” as personal health care enterprise that has right to render tissue bank service: cell procurement, processing, storage and distribution.
• Imunolita recommends collection by gravity drip into a bag.
  
• Imunolita contract covers the cost of shipping by courier service.
• Imunolita ships in validated Neopore containers with thermal stabilizing elements.
• Imunolita  processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use.
• Imunolita final storage is in a single blood bag with two compartments. 
  
• Cryogenic storage is in liquid nitrogen. 
• There is no enrollment fee and the first year of storage is included in the processing fee.
• Discounts available for pre-paid storage, also a twins discount.
  
• Imunolita will provide services free of charge if a sibling of the newborn has a need for a transplant.
  

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INTERNET: www.izvorna-celica.si or Email info@izvorna-celica.si
PHONE: +386 2 229 4 222 or 080 24 23 (toll free for calls from Slovenia)
OFFICE: Maribor, Slovenija
STORAGE: Vita 34, Leipzig, Germany

COMMENT:
Izvorna Celica serves clients in Slovenia and sends cord blood to the laboratory of their partner Vita 34.  Website in local languages.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The Direktor / CEO of Izvorna Celica is Ian Jan.
• Izvorna Celica is responsible for all business in Slovenia: educating parents, delivering collection kits, picking up collections.
• Staff in the Maribor office are on-call 24/7, a second office Ljubljana requires an appointment.
• In addition to telephone inquiries, parents can visit the office for education.
  
• Izvorna Celica arranges for a courier to pick up the collected cord blood from the hospital as soon as possible, in 90% of cases within 2 hours.
• Izvorna Celica carries the collection in the Vita 34 kit with the temperature logger.  A courier service takes the collection to Leipzig by air so that it will arrive at the lab within 36 hours of birth.  If the package does not meet this deadline then the company will have to pay for extra tests.
• Vita 34 was the first family cord blood bank in Europe and their lab operates under strict German GMP.
• Vita 34 has released cord blood for 12 transplants; 9 to the baby whose blood was banked (ie: autologous).
• Izvorna Celica clients have a choice between two Vita 34 service packages:
• Service Package One: Vita 34 regular service + 1 year storage. 1.590 € (includes tax and all expenses) Additional payment of 50 € per year for storage.
• Service Package Two: Vita 34 MAX service (includes newborn screening tests) + 25 years of storage. 2.490 € (includes tax and all expenses)
• Izvorna Celica clients have the benefit of numerous Vita34 quality features:
• If the cord blood fails infectious disease testing, there is no charge to parents.
  
• If the cord blood collection is small and parents choose not to store, only the enrollment fee is charged.
• Vita34 is the first private bank in the world which provides an insurance that guarantees storage if the company goes out of business (50 years insolvency insurance).
• Sibling Transplant Program provides free banking if a sibling has a disease that is treated with transplantation.
  
• As of Dec. 2009, VITA 34 claims an inventory of more than 67,000 cord blood collections.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Izvorna Celica is also a representative of BioEDEN and offers parents the storage of stem cells from baby teeth.  Please note that while cord blood has been used to transplant 14,000 patients by the end of 2009, no one has ever been treated with stem cells form baby teeth.

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INTERNET: www.krio.hu
PHONE: +36-1-416-7453
OFFICE: headquarters in Budapest, Hungary
STORAGE: Krio has two laboratories: the first is in Budapest, the second is in Miskolc, at the Dept. of Hematology of Miskolc Hospital.

COMMENT: Krio Institute began in 1998 as a cryobank specializing in sperm banking.  The cord blood storage division started in 2004.  Krio is now owned by the Polish cord blood bank PBKM S.A.  Website in Hungarian and English.


SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Collected blood must arrive at the laboratory within 48 hours of birth.  Transport is usually by the father; the contract does not include courier service.
• Director of laboratory operations is  István Balogh, Ph.D.
  
• Laboratory processing consists of adding a cryopreservative and freezing the whole blood, first in a controlled rate freezer and then in a permanent storage tank.
• Collection and storage is in one-compartment blood bags, but additional samples are stored in cryovials.
• Final storage is in the vapor phase of cryogenic nitrogen.
• There are 3 different payment plan options: pay Euro 1000 for processing and 20 years storage, pay Euro 800 for processing and 10 years storage, or pay Euro 560 now for processing and Euro 48 each year for storage.

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INTERNET: www.lifecord.org; Emails office@lifecord.at or info@lifecordturkey.com
PHONE: +43 316 722 866-12; 
OFFICE: Graz, Austria.
STORAGE: Lab and storage are located in Graz, Austria.

COMMENT: Website in German, Austrian, and Turkish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Cord blood is processed by two stages of Ficoll density gradient centrifuge.
• Final fee only covers 5 years of storage.

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INTERNET: www.longavita.pl; Email pzieba@longavita.com
PHONE: +48 (91) 485 46 05
OFFICE: Krakow, Poland.

COMMENT: Markets only to Poland; website in Polish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Prepay long-term storage at a discount.

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INTERNET: www.onkim.com.tr or Email info@onkim.com.tr
PHONE:  +90 (212) 276 44 49
OFFICE + STORAGE: Istanbul Technical Universit, Technology Development Centre, Istanbul, Turkey

COMMENTS:
Onkim is dedicated to high quality and holds a GMP certificate.  Onkim Website in Turkish and English.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Onkim is accredited by the Turkish Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy, by ISO, and has a certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
• Onkim reccommends collection of cord blood after delivery of the placenta, using gravity drip into a bag.
• Contract includes shipping by courier.  The shipping package contains a temperature logger.
• Onkim processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use.
• Final storage is in the liquid phase of nitrogen.
• The cost (spring 2010) is 2500 Turkish Liras, which is approximately 1200 Euros.
• First year of storage is included in the processing fee.
• Discount 10% for medical doctors.
• As of March 2010, Onkim claims an inventory of over 1000 cord blood collections.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
In addition to cord blood banking, Onkim has become active in regenerative medicine.  Since 24 Feb. 2010, the Ministry of Health of Turkey has found Onkim to comply with GMP requirements for the production of autologous tissues (from the patient's own body) of the types chondral tissue (cartilage), vascular tissue (blood vessels), and bone marrow.  The website of Onkim carries staff profiles, a list of Advisors, photos and videos.  Onkim policy includes a commitment to respect patient rights.

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INTERNET: www.pbkm.pl
PHONE: +48 (22) 436-40-50 anytime
STORAGE: lab and storage located at The Children's Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, Poland

COMMENTS:
PBKM is an independent company.  They are the only cord blood bank in Poland which operates their own laboratory without any sub-contractors. 

AFFILIATES:

• Hungary: PBKM owns Krio
  
• Latvia: Riga office of ActiVision Life SIA; Tel. +371 760 5536 or +371 920 6014
• Romania: Biogenis
  
• Spain: Sevibe Cells and VidaCord send collections to the lab of PBKM
  

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• PBKM has the only cord blood lab in Poland to be inspected by the Poland National Centre of Transfusion Medicine and Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.  Accredited by AABB and ISO 9001:2000.
• PBKM guarantees not to exceed 24 hours from collection to storage for collections within Poland.
  
• The PBKM website has an animated map showing collection centers at maternity hospitals where staff have been trained by PBKM and certified by the National Transfusion Service to collect cord blood.
  
• Price includes transport of the cord blood by a dedicated medical courier.
• The first year of storage is included in the processing fee.  Discounts for pre-paid storage.
  
• Discounts available for health care employees, repeat customers, twin birth.
  
• If a sibling has a disease that is treatable with stem cells, PBKM provides services free of charge.
• PBKM has a signed agreement with the Polish Academy of Sciences to cooperate on stem cell research.
• As of Dec. 2009, PBKM claims an inventory of over 30,000 cord blood collections and has released 4 cord blood transplants.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The President of PBKM Medical Council is Jan Sablinski, M.D., Ph.D.  Among the seven members of the council is Zbigniew Roger Mrowiec, Ph.D., of the Community Blood Services blood bank in New Jersey, USA.  PBKM was a member of the old trade association, European Association of Family Cord Blood Banks, and is a member of the current trade association, Cord Blood Europe.

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INTERNET: www.pcsc.ch
PHONE: +41 91 911 34 44 (multi-language)
OFFICE: Lugano, Switzerland
STORAGE: Lugano, Switzerland

COMMENT:
ProCrea Stem Cells (PCSC) benefits from the 20 years of experience and expertise in cryopreservation of biological materials at the Procrea Centro Fertilità.  Website in Italian, German, and French.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• ProCrea recommends collection of cord blood before delivery of the placenta, because this has been shown to increase collection volume.
• ProCrea collection kit contains a bag for gravity collection of cord blood (bag volume 250 ml, containing 35 ml of the anti-coagulant CPD).
• ProCrea contract includes courier shipping.  Because ProCrea follows FACT/Netcord standards, the cord blood must be stored within 48 hours from birth.  They use DHL and two other dedicated courier companies to insure courier transport is available any day of the week.
  
• The shipping container is hermetically sealed and includes a temperature data logger.
  
• ProCrea processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use. 
• ProCrea is accredited by Swissmedic, department of the national Ministry of Health. Swissmedic (Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products) inspects the bank every yea and requires the bank to follow the FACT/Netcord guidelines.
• ProCrea stores the separated cells in a cryobag, plus they store a vial of whole cord blood and 2 vials of plasma.
  
• Storage freezers use the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen.
• Prices within Switzerland are CHF 650 enrollment and CHF 2550 processing.  Prices include TVA fees.
  
• Price includes 20 years of storage.
• If the cord blood is not suitable for cryopreservation, either because of contamination, infectious disease, or low collection volume, then there is no charge to parents beyond the enrollment.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

ProCrea uses Swiss partners for transport and laboratory analysis, and the Sepax processing equipment is Swiss-made. ProCrea staff are always available to answer questions from parents and they provide technical training to staff at their collection centers.  The ProCrea Fertility Center provides access to qualified gynecologists, biologist and laboratory technicians.  ProCrea has an accredited (ISO/IEC 17025) molecular genetic laboratory that offers testing for various genetic diseases. 

ProCrea markets to Switzerland and the general EU.  But due to the political situation in Italy, which forbids family cord blood storage within Italy, ProCrea receives 75-80% of their clients from Italy.

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INTERNET: www.progenis.pl or Email daria.malicka@progenis.pl
PHONE:  +48 22 627 03 70, or   +48 12 651 28 51
OFFICE + STORAGE:  Department of Transplantology at University Children's Hospital in Krakow and in Department of Transfusions at Military  Institute of the Health Services in Warsaw ( Poland)

COMMENTS:
Progenis markets only to Poland; website in Polish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Progenis  acts in cooperation with University Children's Hospital in Krakow and Military  Institute of the Health Services in Warsaw.  These research centers have many years experience in banking and transplanting cord blood stem cells.
• Progenis participates in stem cell research.  The Stem Cell Therapeutics Excellence Centre is located in the University Children’s Hospital in Krakow.
• The first pricing option is PLN 500 for collection kit, taking blood and shipping by a medical courier service from anywhere within Poland plus PLN 2450 for processing, and then PLN 395 per year for storage.
  
• An alternate pricing option is PLN 600 plus PLN 1590, and then PLN 395 per year for storage.
• The first year of storage is included in processing fee.
  
• Long-term storage discounts are PLN 1600 for 5 years, PLN 2700 for 10 years, and PLN 3900 for 17 years.
• At customer's request, stored cells can be divided into two portions prior to freezing.

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INTERNET: www.rcb-cellbank.ch; Email cordon.ombilical@rcb-cellbank.ch 
PHONE: +41 021 601 5330
OFFICE: Lausanne, Switzerland
STORAGE: The processing and storage of cord blood are performed by Future Health Technologies, Ltd. in the UK

COMMENT: Regenerative Cell Bank SA ("RCB") is a private company dedicated to family cord blood storage. The website is in French, but communications are available in German and English upon request.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Regenerative Cell Bank SA has been audited by Swissmedic (the Swiss certification agency) and approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (SFOPH).
• RCB website is accredited by Health on the Net Foundation (HON)
  
• RCB takes charge of all logistics: ensuring proper training of birthing staff and transporting the blood by medical courier.
• All-inclusive price covers blood test, collection kit, shipping and administrative services (the first 950 SFr or about € 610), plus processing and storage for twenty years (the final 2850 SFr or about € 1840).
• The initial fee (first 950 SFr or about € 610) is reimbursed if the collection cannot be performed, provided the kit is unopened.
• The final fee will not be charged if it was impossible to process and store the cells, and it will be reimbursed if the second blood test shows disease and the storage is cancelled.

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INTERNET: www.secuvita.com or www.secuvita.es  or Email info@secuvita.es
PHONE: 902-998-013 or
OFFICE: Madrid, Spain
STORAGE: VITA34 in Leipzig, Germany

COMMENT:  Secuvita arranges for the collection and shipment of cord blood in Spain, but it is processed and stored at the laboratory of VITA34 under German GMP conditions.  Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Phone number to call for transport is 902-995-884
  
• Secuvita uses the proprietary shipping package of VITA34, which is heavily insulated and contains a temperature monitoring chip.
• First year of storage inlcuded in processing fee.

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INTERNET: www.seracell.de
PHONE: 0800-300 444 14 (Germany only) or Email bestellung@seracell.de
OFFICE: Berlin, Germany
STORAGE: Seracell operates four clean rooms near Rostock, Germany

COMMENT: Website in German

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Seracell AG is part of the Seracell Group
  
• Seracell pricing plan is designed to make cord blood banking affordable to every young family:
• Seracell charges only Euro 180 initially, followed by a storage fee of Euro 6 per month; the monthly fee drops to Euro 4 after 10 years and Euro 2 after 20 years.
• An alternate pricing plan is for the client to make a one-time payment of Euro 1200, covering processing and storage for 20 years.
  
• Parents may cancel the contract at any time with a one-month cancellation period.

ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION: 
Seracell is a group of stem cell companies which operates four clean rooms close to the University of Rostock, in the north of Germany. Their core business formerly was the preparation of stem cell donations to be used in transplants. Their medical staff have more than ten years experience in stem cell processing. In 2008 they entered the business of family cord blood storage and purchased the company BasicCell GmbH, which co-operated between 2004-2008 with a laboratory located at the Ruhr University of Bochum, in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.

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INTERNET: www.sevibe.es
PHONE: 902-789-879
OFFICE: Barcelona, Spain
STORAGE: PBKM S.A. in Warsaw, Poland

COMMENT:  Sevibe Cells is an independent Spanish company.  Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Sevibe Cells staff attend personally to the birth and transport the collected cord blood.
• Price includes cost of courier transport in an insulated container with a temperature logger.
• Laboratory at PBKM in Poland is located within The Children's Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, Poland, and has been inspected by the Poland National Centre of Transfusion Medicine and the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. 
  
• PBKM laboratory is accredited by AABB and ISO 9001:2008.
• As of Dec. 2009, PBKM claims an inventory of over 30,000 cord blood collections and has released 4 cord blood transplants.
• First year of storage included in processing fee.

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Please see the page for Italy.

INTERNET: www.smartcells.com;  Email uk@smartcells.com
PHONE: +44 (0) 20 7436 9966  
OFFICE: UK / EU headquarters in London
STORAGE: Smart Cells has built their own laboratory in the UK.  It is accredited by United Kingdom Human Tissue Authority (HTA), License 22522.
 
COMMENT: 


AFFILIATES:
The Smart Cells service package may differ from one country to another according to local regulations.  Please check the local office for details.  Prices for the first year range from £995 to £1895 (As of March 2008).

• Bulgaria (Plovdiv): +359 896 607 362 or Email  Jelena@smartcells.com
  
• Dubai, UAE: +971 (0) 50 644-6519; or Email uae@smartcells.com
• Hong Kong: +00 852 2868 5046; or Email info@smartcellshk.com
  
• Kuwait: 965-5313-484 or Email kuwait@smartcells.com
  
• Lebanon (Beirut): "Cryogene" +961 125 37 28 or Email lb@smartcells.com
  
• Malta: www.smartcellsmalta.com, +35 6795 76278 or Email info@smartcellsmalta.com (transport to UK via DHL courier)
• South Africa (Johannesburg): "NetCells"  www.netcells.co.za, +27 (0) 11 301 0000 or Email Kim.Long@netcare.co.za
• Spain: "Smart Cells Espana" +902 235 852 or Email info@smartcellsespana.com
• Syria: +963-11-6210804 or Email c-homsi@scs-net.org
  

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Enrollment fee of £195 covers kit and is not refundable.
  
• Smart Cells uses a proprietary collection kit designed to maintain the cord blood at ambient temperature during shipping.
• Technicians separate MonoNuclear Cells by centrifuge.
• Final storage is in Pall blood bags which have two portions holding 80%/20% volume.
  
• Cryogenic storage is in the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen.
  
• Smart Cells stores 100% of your child's stem cells for your family.
• The Smart Cells contract covers 25 years of storage.
  
• Smart Cells will not conduct any research on your child's cells, nor will they donate any cells without your permission.
  
• Clients will receive a complete refund if the cells are transplanted within one year of storage. 
  
• No hidden costs.  Payment plans are available and discounts on pre-paid storage are available.
  
• As of March 2008, Smart Cells claims an inventory of 12,000 cord blood collections from 12 countries, and has released 2 successful transplants.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This company has always been independently owned. It was formerly named CryoCare (UK) Ltd and prior to 2004 used the Cryo-Save laboratory in Mechelen, Belgium.  Up until 1 April 2009, SmartCells used the BioVault cryogenic laboratory in Plymouth, England.  All cord blood collections which had been stored in BioVault, up to and including 1 April 2009, remain in BioVault.  The current managing director of Smart Cells International is Shamshad Ahmed. 

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INTERNET: www.stellacure.com
PHONE: 0800 - 000 66 57 or +49 (0) 40 46 96 76 10 
OFFICE: Hamburg or Frankfurt, Germany
STORAGE: Red Cross Donation Service, Frankfurt/Main

COMMENTS:
StellaCure is a family cord blood banking service which is a partner to the public cord blood bank operated by the German version of the Red Cross, DRK.  Website in German.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The laboratory of StellaCure is located in the Red Cross Donation Service of Frankfurt: "Blutspendedienst des DRK Baden-Württemberg – Hessen"
• This laboratory has been providing public cord blood banking since 1996; the family service via StellaCure was begun in 2006.
• Cord blood collections for StellaCure clients go through the same level of quality control required for public donations of cord blood.
  
• StellaCure processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use. 
• StellaCure collects into bags by gravity and final storage is in bags with two compartments 80%/20%.
  
• Cost includes transport with a courier service trained to transport human tissues and cells. 
  
• Transport box includes electronic chip to monitor temperature.
• Once cord blood is frozen, it is stored in a quarantine tank using vapour phase of liquid nitrogen.  Those collections which pass infectious disease testing go into long term storage in liquid nitrogen.
• First year of storage is included in processing fee.
• Discount available for pre-paid storage.
• Discount 20% for medical professionals.
• The DRK will guarantee the storage of the cord blood for the duration of the contract, if StellaCure should go out of business.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
StellaCure is the first family bank to partner with the German Red Cross, DRK.  The DRK public cord blood bank in Frankfurt has accumulated an inventory of 2000 collections (as of March 2008) since 1996.  On 24 March 2010, the American company Cord Blood America Inc. (OTCBB: CBAI) acquired 51% of Stellacure.  In June 2010, CBAI named Thomas Kolzau, PhD, the new director of Stellacure.  He previously was a consultant specializing in bio/pharma industries and the application of patent-based technologies.

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INTERNET: www.stemcare.dk; Email info@stemcare.dk
PHONE: +45 7025 7121
OFFICE + STORAGE: Copenhagen, Denmark

COMMENT:
Stemcare is the leading cord blood bank in Denmark.  Website in Danish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Cord blood collection is usually performed after delivery of the placenta, using blood bags.
• For collections within Denmark, courier service is included in the contract and the courier has custody of the blood at all times.  The shipping container is kept at room temperature and is monitored by a temperature logger.
  
• Technicians at Stemcare laboratory process cord blood with expressors and centrifuges to separate stem cells.
  
• Stemcare is accredited by the Danish Medicines Agency with respect to the implementation of the EU Cells and Tissue Directives into Danish legislation.
• Discounts available for returning clients, pre-paid storage, and multiple births.
• Prices as of Ect. 2009 are: Enrollment: 975- DDK, Processing: 5900- DDK, Annual storage: 1370- DDK.
  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Stemcare was founded in 2002 and began collecting cord blood in 2003.  Originally, Stemcare shipped their cord blood collections to the laboratory of VITA34, in Leipzig, Germany.  As of spring 2005, Stemcare began operating their own laboratory in Copenhagen, using the proprietary GMP technology from VITA34.  In October 2007, Stemcare merged with Copygene, another cord blood bank in Copenhagen which was founded in 2003 and began operations in 2004.  Stemcare is also a founding member of Cord Blood Europe.

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INTERNET:  www.bancostemcell.com, or Email info@bancostemcell.com
PHONE: 24 Houras: 902 28 28 82
OFFICE: Saldaña, Spain
STORAGE: Medizinische Laboratorien Bonn (MLB), Bonn, Germany

COMMENT:
Stem Cell organizes the collection and shipment of cord blood in Spain to be processed at the laboratory of MLB under stringent GMP conditions.  Website in Spanish

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• There is no initial payment to enroll with Stem Cell.
• Stem Cell representatives personally collect the cord blood from the hospital or parents and ship them via certified couriers to their laboratory in Germany.
• There are no charges if the cells fail quality testing or if the collection is too small to merit storage.
• Price includes storage for 20 years.
  
• Stem Cell carries insurance to guarantee storage if the company goes out of business.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The staff of Medizinische Laboratorien Bonn are listed on their website.  The website does not describe which processing method is used to separate stem cells.

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INTERNET: www.stemcellclinic.com or info@stemcellclinic.com
PHONE: +1 (718) 442-98-11
OFFICE: Kiev, Ukraine
STORAGE: Kiev, Ukraine

COMMENT:  The institute of Cell Therapy offers family banking of cord blood and "placenta extract".  The institute also offers a variety of treatments with cells from cord blood and the placenta, including "rejuvenation".  Website languages: RU, EN, HU, SL

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Cryopreservation of "placenta extract" was developed at the Institute of Cellular Therapy.  The concept is to preserve protein regulators that can activate dormant stem cells.

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INTERNET: www.stembank.ch
PHONE: +41 91 260 32 05
OFFICE: Lugano, Switzerland
STORAGE: Lugano, Switzerland

COMMENT: Swiss Stem Cells Bank (SSCB) is the first cord blood laboratory in Switzerland.  Website languages: Italian, German, French, and English.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Swiss Stem Cells Bank processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Swiss Stem Cells Bank originated from the co-operation between two well known medical entities in Switzerland: the Molecular diagnostics laboratory and the Cardiocentro Ticino in Lugano.  Swiss Stem Cells Bank is one of the founding members of Cord Blood Europe.

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INTERNET: www.vita34.de,  Email info@vita34.de
PHONE: +49 (341) 4879290 or 08000 34 0000 (free from Germany)
             or 008000 340 0000 (free from Switzerland/Austria)
OFFICE: Leipzig, Germany
STORAGE: Leipzig, Germany

COMMENTS:

• Vita 34 was the first family cord blood bank on the European continent.
• Vita 34 was the first private bank in the world to provide insurance that guarantees storage if the company goes out of business (50 years insolvency insurance).
  
• Vita 34 is the first family bank in Europe to offer parents the option of donating their child's cord blood if it matches a patient needing a transplant (VitaplusDonation).
  
• Website in German and English.
  

AFFILIATES:

• Secuvita in Spain
• Izvorna Celica d.o.o. in Slovenia
• Sorgente in Italy

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• List of Vita 34 transplants.  As of June 2010, Vita34 has released 14 transplants, 12 to the baby whose blood was banked (ie: autologous).
• Vita 34 banked the blood for the first transplant in Europe using privately banked cord blood on 26 Sept 2005.  The blood had been stored at VITA 34 on 8 Feb 2005 and was transplanted to a 5 year old brother with aplastic anemia. 
  
• Collection kit contains extra disinfection supplies. Collection training provided at 2-3 hospitals per week.
• Vita 34 has cooperation treaties with more than 850 hospitals in Germany.
  
• Cost includes temperature-controlled courier transport by express train
  
• Transport box includes electronic chip to monitor temperature.
• In Aug 2003 Vita 34 moved into a glass laboratory where visitors can observe cord blood processing in the clean room.
  
• Vita 34 has a patent on their sterile technique of processing cord blood.  The Vita 34 system maintains sterility from collection through processing and storage.
• All preparations are stored at VITA 34 as whole blood.
  
• Vita 34 contract is for indefinite storage, not just about 20 years.
  
• Traditional price model for "Vita 34 Klassik" is an all-inclusive fee of Euro 1990 for collection and processing; the annual storage fee is Euro 30 per year (Euro 43.70 after 1 April 2010).
  
• Additional product: "Vita 34 Max", including newborn screening tests, for Euro 2490 plus annual fee of Euro 30 (Euro 43.70 after 1 April 2010).
• Another alternative is to pay 25 years of storage in advance for Euro 2490 for "Vita 34 Klassik", respectively Euro 2990 for "Vita 34 Max".  The savings is Euro 250 (Euro 592.50 after 1 April 2010).
• There are different financing offers to meet the needs of the customers in Germany.
• Vita 34 offers a bonus of Euro 150 starting with the second cord blood storage per client.
• For twin births the company provides a 50 % discount on the compatibility and annual fee for the 2nd child; for triplets they do not charge a contract fee for the 3rd baby, only the annual fee.
• If the sample fails infectious disease testing, there is no charge to parents.
  
• If the sample can be stored but the parents choose not to store, only Euro 150 charged.
• Parents can cancel their contract within 4 weeks of collection without cause.
• Listed price in table is for Germany and Austria; elsewhere cost adjusted to cover transportation.
• Sibling Transplant Program provides free banking if a sibling has a disease that is treated with transplantation.  So far, 116 children have banked cord blood under this charity program.
• Additional service: Since 1 Jan 2008, VITAplusDonation offers parents combination of private and public storage: parents can opt to undergo further typing and testing and list the cord blood on a registry.  If the cord blood matches a patient needing a transplant, parents can choose to donate the cord blood to the patient and receive reimbursement from the bank.
• The fact that VITA 34 is allowed to transfer private clients to public donations shows that their quality control meets all the requirements for public banking.
  
• As of Dec. 2009, VITA 34 claims an inventory of 67,000 cord blood collections.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Vita 34 has several research partners. Topics of research include:

• cord blood expansion
• cord blood treatment of stroke
• cord blood treatment of myocardial infarction
• cord blood treatment of newborn brain disease
• cord blood treatment of type-1-diabetes (juvenile diabetes)
  
• basic stem cell research, e.g. on very small embryonic like stem cells

Vita 34 has the following Accreditations or Certifications:

• Manufacturing License
• GMP-accredited (Good Manufacturing License)
• Drug approval for allogeneic use of cord blood to Vita 34 from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (PEI)
• Accreditation from the PEI to use autologous cord blood for a Type-1-Diabetes trial
• USA FDA (Food and Drug Administration) registration for Human Cell, Tissues and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/P)

On 23 March 2007, Vita 34 International AG became a publicly traded company.  The release of 600,000 shares at 15 Euro each created a cash inflow of 9 million Euro to fuel accelerated growth.  Vita 34 is listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange, all shares are  graded "prime".  Vita 34 estimates that nearly 90% of families storing cord blood in Germany are using their services.

Vita 34 is one of the first private banks in the world to combine family storage with public donation, through their VITAplusDonation program.  Another is CryoLife in Hong Kong offering their CryoMATCH service.  Vita 34 is the only private cord blood bank in Germany which has a pharmaceutical permit for the storage of donated cord blood intended for unrelated patients (called allogeneic transplants). This program fills the desire of parents to be able to help their own family and society at the same time.  Vita 34 is one of the founding members of Cord Blood Europe.

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INTERNET: www.vidacord.es, Email info@vidacord.es
PHONE: +34 91 702 6879 / +34 902 007 345
OFFICE: Madrid, Spain
LABORATORY: Alcalá de Henares (Madrid - Spain)
STORAGE: After cord blood is processed in the Madrid lab, parents have 3 choices for long-term storage:

1. VidaCord own facilities (in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid - Spain)
2. Future Health Technologies (Nottingham, UK).
3. PBKM (Warsaw, Poland)

COMMENT:  VidaCord is an independent Spanish company and the first cord blood bank established in Spain under Royal Decree 1301/2006.  Website in Spanish.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Vidacord processes all cord blood in their own laboratory in Madrid.
  
• Cord blood regulations in Spain require that all cord blood stored within the country must by typed and listed on the national donor registry REDMO.  If the frozen cells are stored elsewhere they remain 100% private property.
• VidaCord uses a collection bag, which is the same used by the National Public Health System.
• VidaCord provides their own collection service as part of their contract in most locations. This ensures the bag is properly sealed, documentation is completed, and the maternal blood sample is attached.
• If no collection is possible at birth, VidaCord reimburses all payments in full.
• Transport kit includes a temperature logger chip.
• VidaCord processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use.
• VidaCord follows FACT/Netcord procedures.
• VidaCord performs strict quality controls consistent with public cord blood banking for transplants.  In addition to testing for contamination and infectious diseases, they conduct the direct Coombs test for antibodies, verifying that the cord blood collection has enough volume and number of cells, and evaluate its viability by counting the number of live CD34+ cells.
• Final storage is in liquid nitrogen tanks. Those collections which pass infectious disease testing go into long term storage in liquid nitrogen.
• VidaCord has a quick processing guarantee. The majority of collections are processed within 24 hours.
• If the collection does not have enough stem cells for a transplant, Vidacord will provide free storage for 10 years.
• Current (March 2010) cost is  450 € (collection kit-bag) + 1.245 € after processing (total 1.695 €).  The first year of storage is included in the processing fee.
  
• Discounts available for medical profesionals, health care insurance affiliates, large family members, twins, and several other associations.
• Vidacord offers an optional service of genetic screening for over 80 metabolic disorders.
  
• VidaCord has a Bioethical and Medical Scientific Committee.
  
• VidaCord offers a relief fund of 6.000 € in case the sample is needed for transplantation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Vidacord company statement of purpose extends well beyond just banking cord blood.

• To store stem cells from umbilical cord blood for future therapeutic use that is either autologous or allogeneic, sibling or non-related.
• To store stem cells from peripheral blood for future therapeutic use that is either autologous or sibling transplant.
• To release stored stem cells for the treatment of patients on a transplant waiting list, when a non related allogeneic transplant is feasible and a compatible HLA sample is available at Vidacord.
  
• To promote and support research of multipotent adult stem cells, ideally from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord, as a potential future cellular therapy treatment for multiple diseases.
• To organize national and international scientific forums to promote the the field of cell and tissue transplants, including not only the medical and scientific aspects but also education, law, and ethics.
• To promote public awareness of the donation of human cells and tissues, especially from bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood.  This is done with full respect of Human Rights, as stated in the Agreement of Oviedo relating to Human Rights and to the Biomedicine published in the BOE on Oct 19th 1999.

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INTERNET: vidapluscm.com or Email info@vidapluscm.com
PHONE: +34 902 267 366 or 902 CORDON
OFFICE: Madrid, España (Spain)
STORAGE: StellaCure GmbH, in Frankfurt, Germany

COMMENT:
Vidaplus Células Madre, also known as Vidapluscm, is an independent company which serves clients in España (Spain) but uses the laboratory of the German Red Cross in Frankfurt, Germany.  Website in Spanish.

CORD BLOOD SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Vidapluscm operates in partnership with the German cord blood bank StellaCure, which in turn has a partnership with the Frankfurt laboratory of the German Red Cross, "Blutspendedienst des DRK Baden- Württemberg- Hessen”
• Although Vidapluscm began operations in 2008, the laboratory has operated as a public cord blood bank since 1996.  All cord blood collections go through the same level of quality control required for public donations of cord blood.
• Vidapluscm collects cord blood by gravity drip into a blood bag.
  
• Vidapluscm provides personal courier service as part of their contract and includes a thermometer to monitor temperature during shipping.
• The laboratory processing method uses the automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe.  Sepax is an automated cell separation system which relies on a laser beam to sense the density gradient between different cell layers after the blood has been spun in a centrifuge.  The bag kit is sterile, functionally closed, and single-use. 
• Final storage is in bags with two compartments 80%/20% as well as several small testing portions.
  
• Once cord blood is frozen, it is stored in a quarantine tank using vapour phase of liquid nitrogen.  Those collections which pass infectious disease testing go into long term storage in liquid nitrogen.
• Discounts available to medical professionals and certain private insurance plans.
• First year of storage is included in processing fee.
  

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INTERNET: www.vitacord.at;  Email office@vitacord.at
PHONE: 01/577 49 30
OFFICE: Austria

COMMENT: website in German

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Storage costs Euro 400 for the first 5 years and Euro 430 for the next 13 years.

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INTERNET: www.kordonkanibankasi.com;  Email info@kordonkanibankasi.com  
PHONE: +90 312 446 42 44
OFFICE: Turkey

COMMENT: Website in Turkish and partial English
 
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