Family Cord Blood Banks in the USA

INTERNET: www.alphacord.com
PHONE: 866-396-7283
OFFICE: Atlanta, GA
STORAGE: depends on the lab, see COMMENT
ACCREDITATION: labs have AABB, except for Utah

COMMENT:
AlphaCord is the only cord blood company which offers parents a choice between multiple labs.  Alpha Cord is committed to providing  parents the best pricing.  These are the laboratories which are currently accepting AlphaCord clients:

• AlphaCord / California: CordBancUSA
  
• AlphaCord / Colorado: University of Colorado
  
• AlphaCord / Illinois:  ITxM / LifeSource
• AlphaCord / Indiana:  The Genesis Bank
• AlphaCord / New Jersey:  Community Blood Services
• AlphaCord / Utah: Utah Cord Bank
  

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Parents may choose any of the labs in the AlphaCord network (Exception: Parents in NY or NJ must use a lab which is accredited by the state of NY or NJ, which limits the choices to the New Jersey or Indiana labs above).
  
• Cord blood collections from AlphaCord parents are treated the same way in the laboratory as any other clients.
• Fees start as low as $775 with the ability to make monthly payments as low as $99.
• AlphaCord holds prices down by not including courier shipping services.
• "The AlphaCord Outreach Program", is a charity program which will provide free banking for 4-6 families per year, based on medical need.  Call to inquire.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

AlphaCord was founded in 2002 with the philosophy of serving as a "broker", a marketing company which offered clients a better price than any other contract with the same lab.  Over the years they have been very successful at capturing the segment of the market for which price is a primary concern.  The company now offers contracts with laboratories across the country and is staffed by six employees in an office.  Feeder web sites:  www.CordBloodQuestions.com

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INTERNET: www.AssureImmune.com
PHONE: 1-888-3immune (888-346-6863)
OFFICE: Boca Raton, FL
STORAGE: Boca Raton, FL
ACCREDITATION: in process (new lab)

COMMENT:
AssureImmune markets the storage of  "adult" stem cells, either from the peripheral blood of adults or from the cord blood of newborns.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The laboratory of AssureImmune is located in the Research and Development Park of Florida Atlantic University.
  
• AssureImmune collection relies on gravity drip into a blood bag.
• AssureImmune provides overnight transportation of the blood collection as part of their contract.  The desired temperature during shipping is 55-85 F.
  
• AssureImmune separates MonoNuclear Cells with the AutoXpress Process (AXP) developed by  Thermogenesis.  This method is an automated, fully closed, and sterile system.
  
• AssureImmune stores cells in the automated BioArchive freezer developed by Thermogenesis.
• For final storage, the blood bag is first wrapped in a sealed teflon sheath to keep each client's cells quarantined.
  
• If the collection is large enough, a portion is stored at a second facility in Maryland.
  
• Contract price of $1995 includes first year of storage.
• Discount for prepaid storage.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The founders and management of AssureImmune as well as their Scientific Advisory Board have many years of experience and expertise in cell preservation.

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INTERNET: www.CordBancUSA.com
PHONE: 1-888-273-7770
OFFICE: Monterey, CA
STORAGE: Monterey, CA
ACCREDITATION: California Biologics (comparable to AABB)

COMMENT:
CordBancUSA is a subsidiary of BioBancUSA.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• CordBancUSA collection relies on gravity drip into a blood bag.
• Their collection kit is packed with insulation and gel packs to maintain rom temperature.
• CordBancUSA aims to process cord blood within 36 hours of collection.
  
• CordBancUSA separates MonoNuclear Cells with the AutoXpress Process (AXP) developed by  Thermogenesis.  This method is an automated, fully closed, and sterile system.
  
• CordBancUSA stores cells in the automated BioArchive freezer developed by Thermogenesis.
• Final storage is in a compartmented blood bag.
  
• Contract price of $1395 includes first year of storage.
• Payment plans are available.
• Discount for twins.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

BioBancUSA was founded in 2006 and launched operations in April 2007  offering a new type of service: white blood cell banking.  This is essentially banking your mature immune system.  BioBancUSA is the exclusive U.S. licensee of the patent for the collection, processing and cryopreservation technology of white blood cells.  CordBancUSA uses the same technology platform to process cord blood.

The Scientific Advisory Board of CordBancUSA is led by Dominique Charron, M.D., Ph.D..  Dr. Charron is a professor at the University of Paris, and Chair of the Department of Immunology and Histocompatibility at Hospital Saint Louis in Paris, the hospital where the first cord blood transplant was performed in 1988. His research interests include immunogenetics, transplantation biology and medicine.  Dr. Charron has over 300 publications to his credit, and has also served as chair of the International Histocompatibility Workshop and Conference.

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INTERNET: www.cordblood-america.com
PHONE: 888-326-7235 (888-3-CORCELL)
OFFICE: Los Angeles, CA and Philadelphia, PA
STORAGE: Progenitor Cell Therapy, Hackensack, NJ
ACCREDITATION: AABB, NJ, NY

COMMENT: Cord Blood America is a publicly held (Nasdaq OTCBB:CBAI) holding company which owns the subsidiary banks Cord Partners and CorCell, and has acquired the cord blood banks CORD of NY and CureSource of NC.  Cord Blood America operates its cord blood business through CorCell companies, Inc. of Philadelphia.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Cord blood collections are processed at the laboratory of Progenitor Cell Therapy.  The transplant quota is mostly cord blood units released for transplants through public registries.  However, Corcell has released 4 units from family storage for transplant (3 to the donor child and 1 to a sibling).
  
• The laboratory processing uses sedimentation with hetastarch to separate MonoNuclear Cells from cord blood.  Bags are used for both the blood collection and the final storage of the processed cells.
  
• Progenitor Cell Therapy has FACT accreditation for cellular therapy products, but they do not yet have FACT/Netcord accreditation for cord blood processing.  Progenitor Cell Therapy has applied for AABB accreditation.
• Progenitor Cell Therapy laboratory follows cGMP (ie: cellular GMP) standards, which are above FDA requirements for cord blood processing.
• Live customer support is available 24/7; parents or physician can phone during delivery.
• Current (11/5/07) fees are $150 enrollment, $150 courier transport, $1500 collection and processing, and $125 annual storage, for a total first year fee of $1925.
  
• Payment plans are available.
  
• Charity Program: Sibling Donor Cord Blood Program was launched by CorCell Feb2004 to provide free banking to siblings of children with transplantable diseases.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The story of Cord Blood America begins with the cord blood bank Cord Partners, founded in 2003.  Cord Partners was a marketing company with offices in Los Angeles that used the cord blood laboratory of Community Blood Services in NJ.  On 28Jan2005, Cord Partners went public as part of the holding company "Cord Blood America" (Nasdaq OTCBB:CBAI).

On 28 Jan 2006, Cord Blood America purchased the assets of the cord blood bank Cryobank for Oncologic and Reproductive Donors (CORD) in Middletown, NY.  The 750 cord blood collections in storage and three dewars belonging to CORD were moved to the laboratory at Community Blood Services in NJ.

On 13 Oct 2006, Cord Blood America acquired CorCell, a Philadelphia company which has been marketing family cord blood storage since 1996.  In July 2004, CorCell had merged with the German cord blood bank VITA34, under a German holding company VITA34 International AG.  The acquisition by Cord Blood America severed the relationship between CorCell and VITA34.  Cord Blood America also purchased the CorCell inventory of approximately 10,000 cord blood collections held at the lab of Community Blood Services.   However, CorCell retained its operating name.  CorCell has many partnerships with health insurance companies.

On 21 Aug 2007, Cord Blood America acquired CureSource, a company headquartered in Charlestown, South Carolina which markets family cord blood storage and had recently switched its lab from the Medical University of South Carolina to Community Blood Services in NJ.

In Oct 2007, Cord Blood America stopped using the laboratory of Community Blood Services in NJ and switched to Progenitor Cell Therapy, located nearby in Hackensack NJ.  As of 11/5/07, none of the old inventory has been moved.  At this time, most of their cord blood banking is marketed under the name CorCell.

Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC was founded in 1997 by Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., and Robert A. Preti, Ph.D.  Dr. Pecora performed the first adult transplant of expanded cord blood.  Dr. Preti has been the Scientific and Laboratory Director of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), located in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Progenitor Cell Therapy acquired HUMC in March 1999 and upgraded it to a cGMP compliant facility which is experienced in all forms of stem cell engineering. 

Feeder web sites:

• www.cord-blood-stem-cells.com
• www.umbilical-cord-blood-bank.com
• www.umbilical-cord-blood-storage-banking.com

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INTERNET: www.cordblood.com
PHONE: 888-CORDBLOOD
OFFICE: San Bruno, CA
STORAGE: Tucson, AZ
ACCREDITATION: AABB, CA, MD, NJ, NY

COMMENT: CBR is one of the original family cord blood banks, has the world's largest cord blood inventory, and has the most experience with family transplants.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• List of CBR transplants.
• Real people, real stories of transplant patients who banked with CBR
  
• Video center: View films of cord blood collection, processing, transplant, etc.
• Option of syringe or bag collection kit, depending on physician/patient preference.
  
• Live customer support available 24/7; parents or physician can phone during delivery.
• No rush fees, but $150 discount for enrollment at least 60 days prior to due date.  
  
• Courier transport with Quick International provided for an additional flat fee of $150.
• CBR lab (1.1MB photo) separates MonoNuclear Cells with the AutoXpress Process (AXP)  developed by Thermogenesis.   This method is an automated, fully closed and sterile system that yields final MNC recovery of 99.3%. 
  
• The AXP stem cell processing platform has 510(k) device clearance from the FDA.
  
• If the number of collected stem cells is low (for transplant use), parents are informed and given the choice to store it anyway or not store it and receive a full refund.
• Final storage is in custom-made vapour nitrogen tanks (1.1MB photo) in a secure location.
  
• Payment plans available, starting at $48/month for 60 months. Discounts for prepaid storage.
• Client Referral Program awards a year of free storage.  CBR also has a Gift Registry.
• Discounts $750 to clients with credentials as medical professionals.
• Collecting physicians are offered liability insurance of $5 million per occurrence and $10 million aggregate.
• Quality Service Guarantee: If you need to use your child's stem cells and they fail to engraft, you will receive a refund of all fees paid and an additional $50,000.
  
• Charity program: Designated Transplant Program [TM], in operation since 1995, offers free banking if a first or second degree relative of the baby has a disease treatable by transplantation.
• As of Dec 2008, CBR claims an inventory of 250,000 cord blood collections, and has released over 100 for transplants.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Cord Blood Registry (CBR) holds the first privately banked cord blood collection.  Founder David Harris, PhD, stored the cord blood from his son Alexandre in 1992.  The bank was originally housed in a lab at the University of Arizona, where Harris is a professor of immunology.  The business founder of CBR is CEO Tom Moore.  In Dec 2005 CBR opened a new lab in a location near the Tucson airport with 61,140 sq ft space.  Since Feb 2007, and even now in Feb 2009, CBR is the only one of the large private banks which continues to be privately owned. 

CBR originally adopted "Ficoll-Hypaque" (F-H) processing for family storage.  This method of processing was and is routinely used in stem cell research labs because it results in a small final volume.  The blood goes through two cycles of hard centrifuge spinning to separate MonoNuclear Cells almost completely.  The final sample is small enough to fit in two or three 5cc vials.  Transplant doctors have successfully used dozens of CBR units processed by the Ficoll-Hypaque method. 

In 2006 CBR moved to automate their processing in anticipation of  future growth.   In Dec 2006 CBR started using the AutoXpress Process (AXP) automated processing system which yields 99.3% recovery of MNC.   The AXP platform stores blood in compartmented bags with integrally attached testing segments.  However, the AXP does not use ordinary blood bags, it uses special bags which are blow-molded and individually pressure tested.  CBR is the main customer for Thermogenesis bags.  During 2007, CBR ran processing lines with both F-H and AXP methods, in order to have the security of redundancy.  In 2008, CBR completed the transition to AXP processing.


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INTERNET: www.cordbloodsolutions.com
PHONE: 1-866-584-STEM (7836)
OFFICE: Alpharetta, GA
STORAGE: Community Blood Services, Allendale, NJ
ACCREDITATION: AABB

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The cord blood laboratory at Community Blood Services handles all private cord blood units the same way, but each bank which stores at their lab has a separate freezer.
• The transplant quota is from the public bank at Community Blood Services.
• The Community Blood Services processing method (as of 1 Sept 2007) is the 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.  Because the anti-coagulant is already in the bag, the bag carries BLA licensure from the FDA.
• On weekends, shipping costs an additional $90. First year of storage is included in the processing fee.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Founded by Dr. Alan Einstein, an Internal Medicine/Critical Care physician in Atlanta.


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INTERNET: www.cryo-intl.com  
PHONE: 800-869-8608 or 407-834-8333
OFFICE: Altamonte Springs, FL; near Orlando
STORAGE: Altamonte Springs, FL; near Orlando
ACCREDITATION: AABB, NJ, NY

COMMENT: Cryobanks International offers both public and private cord blood banking.  Cryobanks public bank has pioneered the national donation collection model, accepting donations mailed in from anywhere in the US.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Cryobanks is a participating member of the NMDP network of public cord blood banks as of 15 Dec. 2005.
• Cryobanks allows private customers to elect at any time to transfer their cord blood to the public banking program.  However, the NMDP will not allow transfered units to be used for transplants. 
• Shipping by FedEx for $50.  If a courier is required, for extra cost, Cryobanks prefers World Courier.
• First year's storage is included in the processing fee.
  
• Payment plans available.
• Discount 10% for medical professionals and active duty military personnel.
• Discounts for returning customers and for prepaid storage.
  
• Charity program: Free storage to families that have an imminent need for transplant.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The original name of this company was U.S. Cryobanks of Florida.  As of 28 Nov 2005, Cryobanks International became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Biostem, Inc. (OTC BB: BTEM).   The company Biostem had only existed for 10 days prior to this merger, and had previously been known as National Parking Systems Inc. (OTC BB: NPGS).  On the effective date of the merger, the Board of Directors of Cryobanks took over the BioStem board and Cryobanks received net proceeds of $10.0 million.   Due to their restructuring as a publicly held company, Cryobanks is now files financial disclosures on the SEC website "Edgar". 

Cryobanks is actively pursuing technology licensing agreements in overseas markets.  Cryobanks estimates that they can assist the development of four to six foreign facilities each year, for which they will receive a large up-front cash fee plus a percentage of the gross revenues of each facility.

• Cryobanks has opened a facility in Athens, Greece, which is accredited by the AABB
  
• Cryobanks India is a joint venture with R.J. Corporation headed by Ravi Jaipuria.  Cryobanks will invest Rs.1 billion to build seven facilities in metro cities.  An advisor to the project is cardiologist Naresh Trehan.  The first facility will open in 2006 in Gurgaon near New Delhi, as reported in IndianMuslims.Info

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INTERNET: www.cryo-cell.com
PHONE: 800-STOR-CELL
OFFICE: Oldsmar FL, near Tampa
STORAGE: Oldsmar FL, near Tampa
ACCREDITATION: AABB, NJ, NY

COMMENT:
Cryo-Cell is one of the original private cord blood banks and has been a publicly traded company since 1991: Nasdaq OTCBB symbol CCEL.  Cryo-Cell has partnerships with biotech companies researching cord blood applications.   

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• First transplant press release and anniversary.
• List of Cryo-Cell transplants
• As of 25 April 2005, Cryo-Cell processes cord blood by Hespan sedimentation, and long term storage is in compartmented bags. All storage is in their Oldsmar lab, which is compliant with FDA cGTP standards.
• In addition to AABB accreditation, the CryoCell is also certified by ISO 9001:2000.
• Since 6Dec2005, Cryo-Cell offers the following service plan terms:
• CRYO-CELL Client for Life(TM) Program - New and returning clients can lock in current prices for any future children: $1295 processing fee and $100 annual storage fee.
• No enrollment fees.  Clients owe nothing until cord blood is received, processed, and stored.
• Personal courier service is included in the processing fee (US and Puerto Rico only).
• Payment plans: Cryo-Cell offers 6- and 12-month interest free payment plans and a 60-month financing plan to qualified clients.
• Reimbursement of $175 for cord blood collection fees.
• Customer support staffed by nurses 24/7.
• CRYO-CELL Cares(TM) Payment - In conjunction with a transplant of CRYO-CELL-banked cells, the Company will pay clients $10,000 to ease the family  financial hardship of undergoing transplant.
• CRYO-CELL Payment Guarantee(TM) - In the event that a client's cord blood, which was processed and stored by the Company, is used for transplant and fails to engraft, CRYO-CELL will pay the client $50,000.
• Through an exclusive agreement with Upromise®, Cryo-Cell will contribute 2% of its clients' cord blood payments towards their Upromise® account for college education.
• As of July 2008 Cryo-Cell claims more than 155,000 clients worldwide.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Publicly traded since 1991, Cryo-Cell business operations have always been a matter of public record and were frequently written up in Florida Newspapers.  

• In 1998 Cryo-Cell won $1.17 million dollars in a breach of contract lawsuit.  In the succeeding years, that cash surplus was used to establish Cryo-Cell as the industry leader in providing economical cord blood storage, and their inventory grew rapidly.
  
• In 2002 and 2003, Cryo-Cell underwent several changes of leadership, including the retirement of founder Dan Richard.  Richard's severance package included a $200,000 annual consulting fee which he will receive from Cryo-Cell for life. 
  
• On 3 Feb 2003, the St. Petersburg Times published an expose titled Meltdown in which Cryo-Cell employees alleged there were repeated malfunctions of a proprietary freezer under development at Cryo-Cell.  The European affiliates of Cryo-Cell refused to use this freezer,  breaching the terms of  their technology transfer contract.
  
• In the calendar year 2004 Cryo-Cell changed several business practices and raised prices substantially.  Cryo-Cell discontinued use of their proprietary freezer, cancelled plans to open a subsidiary for storage of adult stem cells, and reached an amicable settlement with their former European affiliates.  
  
• On 6Dec2004, Cryo-Cell relocated its headquarters and lab from one Tampa suburb (Clearwater) to another (Oldsmar). The new facility is nearly 18,000 square-feet and meets FDA rules for good manufacturing and good tissue practices (cGTPs). Nearly 75,000 client specimens were moved under police escort.
• Prior to 25 April 2005, Cryo-Cell processed cord blood by "Ficoll-Hypaque" density centrifugation, and long term storage was in vials. Vials were split between two locations: company headquarters in Florida and the storage facility Safti-Cell in Sedona, Arizona.  
  
• Cryo-Cell has international affiliates in Mexico, Central and South America, and India. 
  

Cryo-Cell owns approximately 38% of Saneron CCEL Therapeutics Inc., a biotech company which is conducting research on spinal cord repair using donated cord blood stem cells combined with "Sertoli" cells.  The "Sertoli" cells come from mammalian testes, and have the ability to provide localized immunosuppression, thereby eliminating the need for immune-suppressing drugs (like steroids or chemotherapy) when infusing patients with cord blood cells that have incompatible tissue types.

In Oct 2005, Cryo-Cell formed an exclusive partnership with the biotech firm Plureon Corporation to market the collection of stem cells from the placenta.   Cryo-Cell and Plureon parted ways in 2007.

Quarterly Reports of Cryo-Cell can be accessed by searching under their name at the SEC web site Edgar. (http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml)
 
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INTERNET: www.domanicell.com
PHONE: 201-883-5308
OFFICE: Hackensack, NJ
STORAGE: Progenitor Cell Therapy, Hackensack, NJ
ACCREDITATION: NJ

COMMENT:
DomaniCell LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC.  Their business concept is to market "turn-key" cord blood banking to birthing hospitals. 

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• DomaniCell does not market cord blood banking directly to parents.  To enroll, you or your doctor must use their Hospital Locator to find a DomaniCell Partner Hospital and you must deliver at that hospital.
• DomaniCell partner hospitals are "invested" in the program, which means they receive a cut of the profits.
• Cord blood collections are processed at the laboratory of Progenitor Cell Therapy.  The transplant quota are cord blood units released for transplants through public registries. 
  
• The laboratory processing uses sedimentation with hetastarch to separate MonoNuclear Cells from cord blood.  Bags are used for both the blood collection and the final storage of the processed cells.
  
• Progenitor Cell Therapy has FACT accreditation for cellular therapy products, but they do not yet have FACT/Netcord accreditation for cord blood processing.
• Progenitor Cell Therapy laboratory follows cGMP (ie: cellular GMP) standards, which are above FDA requirements for cord blood processing.
• Domanicell contract includes courier transport, usually by AirNet.
• DomaniCell pricing varies from hospital to hospital.
• Payment plans are always available.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC was founded in 1997 by Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., and Robert A. Preti, Ph.D.  Dr. Pecora performed the first adult transplant of expanded cord blood.  Dr. Preti has been the Scientific and Laboratory Director of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), located in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Progenitor Cell Therapy acquired HUMC in March 1999 and upgraded it to a cGMP compliant facility which is experienced in all forms of stem cell engineering.  The CEO of DomaniCell is Dennis Fallen.

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INTERNET: www.communitybloodservices.org/cb_ekucbp.php
PHONE: 1-866-SAVCORD
OFFICE: Allendale, NJ
STORAGE: Community Blood Services, Allendale, NJ
ACCREDITATION: AABB

COMMENT:
Community Blood Services has served northern New Jersey as a regional blood center since 1953.  Since the mid-90's their cord blood lab has served as the processing sub-contractor for over a dozen private cord blood banks.  Starting in 2008, they are offering family banking contracts directly to consumers.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The transplant quota is from the public bank at Community Blood Services.
• Community Blood Services handles all private cord blood units the same way, but each bank which stores at their lab has a separate freezer.
• The Community Blood Services processing method (as of 1 Sept 2007) is the 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.  Because the anti-coagulant is already in the bag, the bag carries BLA licensure from the FDA.
• Within New Jersey, courier transport is provided by blood center drivers.
• Discount of 10% if the processing fee is paid at once, else it can be paid in three installments without interest.
• Other discounts available if the parent's employer is a Premier Partner.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The cord blood program at Community Blood Services was originally funded by the donor Elie Katz, and hence the program still bears his name.  Initially the Elie Katz program only stored cord blood donations for transplant patients.  Community Blood Services continues to actively bank public units and participates in the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) cord blood bank network.  Additionally, New Jersey is the first state to implement a statewide public cord blood bank in Oct 2005, and as of May 2007, all cord blood collections for the state program are processed at Community Blood Services.

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INTERNET: www.familycord.com
PHONE: 800-490-CORD (2673)
OFFICE: Los Angeles, CA
STORAGE: Los Angeles, CA
ACCREDITATION: AABB, CA, NY

COMMENT: Family Cord Blood Services is a subsidiary of  California Cryobank,  one of the nation's leading sperm banks and a provider of various cryogenic services for 30 years. 

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• FamilyCord was founded in 1997 and operates from its own dedicated laboratory and storage facility.
• The stem cell laboratory of FamilyCord has provided several transplants of stem cells harvested from the donor's blood by apheresis, and two cord blood transplants.
• Cord blood collections are manually processed by licensed clinical laboratory technologists.
• The processing method is red cell depletion with the chemical hespan; the two steps are sedimentation and centrifugation.
• The final sample of MonoNuclear Cells has a volume of 25ml and is stored in a dual compartment bag with 20ml and 5ml portions.  Three testing segments are attached to the storage bag.
  
• Total first year fees are $1795 for processing plus storage.  No late enrollment fees.
• FamilyCord is one of only two family banks which provides a temperature-controlled shipping container.
• For domestic collections, the processing fee includes medical courier service with AirNet. 
  
• For international collections, $150 is deducted from the processing fee, but the client is responsible for the cost of courier service with Quick International.
  
• Returning clients get a $500 discount.
• Parents who are pregnant via donor sperm from California Cryobank are eligible
  
• for CCB Cord Blood Advantage Program, which offers cord blood banking and 3 years of storage for an additional fee of only $795 (over $1000 discount!)
• Special discounts for military personnel, students, and multiple births: call to inquire.
  
• Discounts available for pre-paid storage times.
• Various payment plans are available.
  
• Physician fees for cord blood collection are not reimbursed.
  
• Public Donation Option  (started Aug2005).  In order to be eligible, the parents must choose this program at the time of enrollment, pass all the test required for public donation, pay for HLA typing of the blood, and agree to privately store the cord blood for 10 years before releasing it to the public.  Please see the Public Donation FAQ provided by Family Cord Blood Services. 
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The parent company of Family Cord Blood Services, California Cryobank Sperm Bank, was founded in 1977 by two physicians, Dr. Cappy Rothman and Dr. Charles Sims.  Since then, California Cryobank has grown to serve all 50 US states and more than 30 countries worldwide.  With the advent of technology to process stem cells for freezing, and the development of medical therapies based on cord blood stem cells, in 1997 California Cryobank  opened their Stem Cell Services division and became the first private cord blood bank in California. Their stem cell laboratory has always been completely separate from the sperm bank.  Their medical advisory board includes hematologist Dr. Michael Lill and director of laboratory operations Eddie Jacildo, DLM,MT,CLS.  

In 2005, the cord blood bank changed its name and location.  The old name was California Cryobank Cord Blood Bank.  The lab moved less than a mile from Santa Monica to a larger, state-of-the-art facility in Los Angeles.  The company continues to be privately held and operated by the same staff who have presided over its growth.

alternate web site:  www.familycordbloodservices.com
 
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INTERNET: www.nortonhealthcare.com/services/pregnancy_birth/your_pregnancy/cordblood/
PHONE: 800-852-1770, or 502-629-1234
OFFICE: Louisville, Kentucky
STORAGE: Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky
ACCREDITATION: AABB

COMMENT: Family Link is a regional bank only: cord blood is only accepted from within a 4 hour driving radius of the laboratory.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Family Link is a program of Norton Healthcare, a not-for-profit organization which operates dozens of hospitals throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
• Family Link Cord Blood Storage Program is located in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Laboratory of Norton® Healthcare, which serves the pediatric transplant program at Kosair Children's Hospital
• Transport services are included in the price.  The regional courier service is Beeline Courier.
• The lab is moving towards separation of mononuclear cells (MNC) but currently stores whole blood.
• Discounts for repeat customers ($350 off processing) or employees of Norton Healthcare (20% off both processing and annual storage).
  

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INTERNET: www.thegenesisbank.com
PHONE: 800-804-6703
OFFICE: General BioTechnology, Indianapolis, IN
STORAGE: General BioTechnology, Indianapolis, IN
ACCREDITATION:  AABB, NJ, NY

COMMENT: Genesis Bank is a subsidiary of the biotech company General BioTechnology LLC, a small  Indianapolis company (no website)  which incorporated in 1997 and specializes in cryogenic research and services. 
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• A subsidiary of parent company General BioTechnology, Genesis Bank was founded in July 2004 and began processing cord blood in their laboratory in early 2005.
  
• Because they are a cryogenic research facility, GenesisBank has a unique philosophy of not employing sales staff.  Parents who telephone with inquiries will speak to some one who has a scientific background and can answer their questions.
• Parents or physician can choose collection option: gravity drip into a bag or draw into a syringe.
  
• Laboratory processing is manually performed to reduce volume with Hespan sedimentation.
• Final storage is in a compartmented blood bag
  
• Enrollment fee of $175 is non-refundable. 
  
• Cost does not include transportation of the blood.
  
• Discounts for pre-paid long-term storage.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Genesis Bank is a subsidiary of the biotech company General BioTechnology LLC (no website) in Indianapolis. General BioTechnology was founded with an NIH-NHLBI grant to develop optimized protocols for processing and cryopreserving cord blood.  They have also received federal grant funding from the SBIR program. The CEO of General BioTechnology, Erik Woods, Ph.D., is with the Dept of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and has published research on cord blood preservation.

General BioTechnology LLC also has a division, Genome Resources devoted to sperm banking. 

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INTERNET: www.hemastem.com
PHONE: 800-203-7349; or Email info@hemastem.com  
OFFICE: Main office located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
STORAGE: Alternate labs for Canada & USA:
                   USA lab is Community Blood Services, Paramus, NJ;
                   Canada lab is  Stem Sciences Inc. in North York, Ontario.
ACCREDITATION:  USA lab: AABB; Canada lab: none

COMMENT: HemaStem, aka HemaLife, are privately owned.
HemaStem is owned by Geneticas Life Sciences, Inc., a company specializing in biological insurance: they have divisions which bank the genes of endangered species, clone domestic animals, have a registry of human gene donors for the creation of designer babies, and bank the stem cells in cord blood. Website is in English and Spanish.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• HemaStem provides their patented StemGuard [TM] collection kit.
  
• The USA cord blood laboratory at Community Blood Services handles all private cord blood units the same way, but each bank which stores at their lab has a separate freezer.
• The transplant quota is from the public bank at Community Blood Services.
• The Community Blood Services processing method (as of 1 Sept 2007) is the 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.  Because the anti-coagulant is already in the bag, the bag carries BLA licensure from the FDA.
• Enrollment fee only charged once per family. Price includes shipping by courier service.
• First year storage included in processing fees.
  
• Discount for prepaid storage. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

HemaStem Therapeutics was founded in 2004 as a subsidiary of Geneticas Life Sciences, which provided a patented StemGuard [TM] collection kit.   Genetics Life Sciences specialized in biological insurance: they had divisions which bank ed the genes of endangered species, cloned domestic animals, had a registry of human gene donors for the creation of designer babies, and banked the stem cells in cord blood.
 
Geneticas Life Sciences originally entered the cord blood market in 2003 with the autologous bank GeneAngel, which had a unique pricing concept: No processing fee, but a storage fee of $49.95 was charged every month indefinitely. In exchange for the on-going storage fee, GeneAngel offered parents health insurance: $100,000 if their child developed a disease treatable by cord blood transplant. Perhaps not surprisingly, they could not find customers willing to pay $10,789.20 over 18 years against the odds of one child developing a transplantable disease. Hence, they reorganized and in 2004 launched HemaStem/Hemalife.

Genetics Life Sciences also had a subsidiary  Allerca, devoted to the creation of hypoallergenic cats.  In late 2004 a vicious lawsuit erupted between Transgenic Pets LLC versus Allerca and Geneticas.  Apparently the parent company Geneticas has since been disbanded.
 
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INTERNET: www.lifebankusa.com  
PHONE: 877-LIFEBANK
OFFICE: Cedar Knolls, NJ
STORAGE: Cedar Knolls, NJ
ACCREDITATION: AABB, MD, NJ, NY

COMMENT: LifebankUSA and its parent company, Celgene Corporation (Nasdaq: CELG) offer both family and public cord blood banking.  They are currently (March 2008) the only company which offers the option to  bank placental stem cells for family use.  Through their public donation program, Celgene provides cord blood for clinical trials and pharmaceutical products. 
 
CORD BLOOD BANKING SERVICES:

• List of LifebankUSA transplants
• Press release on first transplant of cord+placenta which took place 3/28/2008.
  
• Testimonials from LifebankUSA transplants
• Educational film about cord blood banking in general
• Animation of collection procedure
• Live customer support available 24/7; parents or physician can phone during delivery.
  
• LIfebankUSA recommends cord blood collection while the placenta is in utero.
• The LifebankUSA collection kit provides a ChloraPrep® One-Step Frepp® Applicator to clean the umbilical cord prior to collecting the cord blood.
• Cost includes domestic courier transport via Quick International.
• The LifebankUSA laboratory procedure is to manually separate MonoNuclear Cells (MNC) by sedimentation with the chemical hetastarch.
• LifebankUSA has validated their cord blood laboratory procedures as yielding MNC separation comparable to the automated AXP and Sepax systems, but much better than those systems in removal of red blood cells, which are less than 1% of the final product.
• LifebankUSA runs CD34+ counts for all private clients and stores cards with blood blots in case of future HLA typing.
• Final storage is in Pall blood bags with 80%/20% compartments.
  
• Client referral program gives $150 discount to the new client and awards a year of free storage to the existing client.
• Returning clients receive $300 off enrollment.  LifebankUSA also has a Gift Registry.
• Payment plans start at $44/month.  A twelve month interest free payment plan is also available.
• Charity Program: "Families in Need" with a disease treatable by a stem cell transplant may be entitled to free enrollment.

 
PLACENTA BANKING SERVICES:

• Starting April 24, 2006, LifebankUSA became the first cord blood bank in the world to offer private banking of placental blood, for an additional cost.
  
• Celgene research shows that the placenta is ten times richer in stem cells than cord blood, based on counts with the CD34+ stain.  Independent transplant research has shown that a higher dose of CD34+ stem cells ensures a better transplant outcome.
  
• In March 2008 researchers at UCLA announced that all the blood (hematopoietic) stem cells of the newborn originate in the placenta.
• A multi-center clinical trial is testing whether transplanting the placental blood together with the umbilical blood speeds engraftment.
  
• The optional banking of placental blood is completely separate from cord blood collection: 
  
• First the cord blood is collected while the placenta is in utero.
• When the placenta is delivered, the entire placenta is shipped to LifebankUSA. 
  
• The process of removing blood from the placenta takes a trained technician about two hours.  First the blood vessels in the placenta are canulated, or opened, and then they are repeatedly profused, or flushed, with saline while the technician kneads the placenta by hand.  All this takes place in a clean room under a hood.
  
• Once the blood has been extracted from the placenta, the stem cells in the placental blood can be separated with the same laboratory procedure as cord blood.
• Because the placenta stem cell storage is separate from the cord blood, any risks of contamination are separate, and they can be used separately.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The private cord blood bank LifebankUSA is operated (Aug 2007) by the same core staff who founded the bank in 1998, despite their acquisition by the public company Celgene in 2002.  These core staff also formed a biotech company named Anthrogenesis, which founded another stem cell laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Anthrogenesis operated a program called  "The Louisiana Stem Cell Repository" (www.la-stemcell.com; website no longer active), which collected placentas donated by parents at local charity hospitals (see archived reports from 11/13/02 and 11/15/02 in The Advocate).

On 13 Nov 2002, Celgene (Nasdaq: CELG) acquired both Anthrogenesis and LifebankUSA for $45 million.  The current (2007) disclosed market value of Celgene is more than $20 billion, and almost 40% of their revenues are invested in research and development.  The family cord blood banking program still operates under the name LifebankUSA, at their NJ laboratory which is accredited by both AABB and  ISO 9001:2000.  The LA laboratory is dedicated to research sponsored by  Celgene Cellular Therapeutics.  Since 2005, Celgene has provided donated stem cells for research on therapies for cancer, heart disease, neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS, spinal cord injury, and other diseases. Their research partners include:

• The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• The Mayo Clinic
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
• Texas Heart® Institute

Celgene also uses the membrane of donated placentas to develop proprietary medical products.  One such product is "Biovance", a collagen-based wound covering. Biovance is primarily composed of amniotic membrane that has undergone minimum processing.  Another Celgene product is "Ambiodry", a dehydrated, decellularized, substrate-free human amniotic membrane allograft. Each allograft has been sterilized and a packaged in a double peel-pouch packaging configuration.

LifebankUSA is one of only two banks in the country which accept mail-in cord blood donations from across the country.  However, their ability to accept these donations fluctuates depending on the cycles of research trials.
 
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INTERNET: www.lifelinecryogenics.com
PHONE: 1-866-967-CRYO
OFFICE: Stamford, CT
STORAGE: Stamford, CT
ACCREDITATION: AABB, CA, NY

COMMENT: LifeLine is a broad spectrum cryogenics company in business since 1991, offering storage of sperm, eggs, ovarian tissue, embryos, and cord blood.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• LifeLine is the only cord blood lab in Connecticut and provides clients with physician support 24/7
  
• Lifeline collection kit contains the Pall cord blood collection bag with 2 needles and disinfection supplies to allow for up to 4 insertions of the cord, resulting in larger volumes of blood collected.
  
• LifeLine uses dedicated medical couriers: Midnight Express and Federal Express Priority Alert.  Their goal is to deliver the blood to the laboratory within 24-36 hours from birth.
  
• The cost of courier service ($150) is included in the basic price.
• LifeLine laboratory processing manually separates MonoNuclear Cell by sedimentation with hetastarch. 
  
• Final storage of stem cells is in Pall blood bags with 80%/20% compartments. 
• LifeLine also stores the child's separated plasma and red blood cells at no additional cost.
  
• First year storage included in processing fees.
  
• Payment plans start at $99 per month.
  
• Discount options if blocks of storage are prepaid.  Twins discount of $200 on 2nd child.
• Gift registry available.
  
• LifeLine hosts an open house on the first Thursday of the month.
• LifeLine offers free cord blood banking to families in need of cord blood transplant with in 6 month of delivery.
  
• LifeLine also carries a "Quality Product Guarantee" of $10,000 payment to client if your cord blood is transplanted and fails to engraft.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
LifeLine was in the news Feb 2007 for accomplishing the first pregnancy from a frozen egg, in the state of Connecticut.

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INTERNET: www.LifeSourceCryobank.com
PHONE: 866-400-7333 or 985-867-8902
OFFICE: Covington, LA
STORAGE: Covington, LA
ACCREDITATION: no


COMMENT:
LifeSource Cryobank is a fairly new cord blood bank which has its own laboratory.  The founders of LifeSource Cryobank are actively involved in regenerative medicine research.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• LifeSource Cryobank laboratory was completed in Feb 2007 and meets FDA GMP standards.  These standards are higher than the requirement for simply preserving cord blood; these standards are required when processed stem cells are delivered as part of a therapy, which is the case in regenerative medicine.
• LifeSource Cryobank offers courier transport to these neighboring communities: Greater New Orleans area, Metairie, Baton Rouge, Covington, Mandeville, Hammond and Slidell, La.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The founder of LifeSource Cryobank is cardiologist Gabriel Lasala, M.D., who is also the president of TCA Clinic, a group of cardiologists in Covington, Louisiana.  The Scientific Director of LifeSource Cryobank is Dr. Jose J Minguell, formerly Director of the Dept of Cellular Therapy at the Universidad de Chile in Santiago, and leader of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program Laboratory at Clinica Las Condes in Santiago, Chile.  Dr. Minguell has published a number of articles in the medical literature about the presence of mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow and their potential for cardiomyoplasty.

LifeSource is directly linked to TCA Cellular Therapy, a research and development company interested in regenerative medicine therapies in which stem cells promote cardiovascular repair.  They are presently participating in Phase I clinical trials in which an adult heart attack patient receives stem cells from his or her own bone marrow during bypass surgery or angioplasty.  In addition to offering cord blood storage, LifeSource Cryobank offers adults the opportunity to bank their stem cells.  For banking, the adult stem cells are filtered from the patient's peripheral blood in a process known as apheresis.

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INTERNET: www.MAZEcordblood.com
PHONE: 914-683-0000
OFFICE: Westchester, NY
STORAGE: Storage facility in Purchase, NY.
Processing lab at the White Plains office of the NY Blood Center, called "Hudson Valley Blood Services".
ACCREDITATION: AABB, NJ, NY

COMMENT: MAZE was originally a fertility center named after the initials of the founding doctor's four sons (Mathew, Adam, Zachary and Evan). Cord blood storage is a subsidiary company. 
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• MAZE processes cord blood at the White Plains lab of the NY Blood Center, which is known as "Hudson Valley Blood Services".  This is not the same NY Blood Center lab which operates the National Cord Blood Program, collecting donations for transplants.
  
• The processed blood is frozen, placed in cryogenic containers, and moved to MAZE Labs in Purchase, NY for long-term storage. The processing lab and storage location are only a few miles apart in Westchester County.
• Cost is a one time, all-inclusive, fee of $1890, which includes the collection kit, private courier, pick up service from the hospital, processing and storage for the first 18 years.
• Courier service with secure chain of custody is now available, using AirNet, from any location.

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INTERNET: www.neocells.com
PHONE: 888-50-CELLS
OFFICE:  Palm Harbor, FL
STORAGE: Reproductive Genetics Institute, Chicago, IL
and Community Blood Services, Allendale, NJ
ACCREDITATION: RGI: none; CBS: AABB, NJ, NY

COMMENT: NeoCells is currently the "most affordable" family cord blood bank.   

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Neocells and AdultCells are both marketing companies which are subsidiaries of Vivicells (office in Chicago).  Neocells banks umbilical cord blood and AdultCells banks stem cells from adults.  Both types of cells are considered by scientists to be "adult" stem cells. 
  
• Neocells and AdultCells share a laboratory at the Reproductive Genetics Institute (RGI).  While RGI is world-reknowned for their work with embryonic stem cells, the cord blood laboratory is completely separate from the embryonic stem cell laboratory.
  
• At present, the NeoCells processing method is to separate MonoNuclear Cells completely by centrifuge, with final cord blood storage in vials.  NeoCells is switching to bag storage in order to obtain accreditation by the AABB.
• NeoCells also sub-contracts some of their cord blood processing to Community Blood Services in NJ, which  has a fully accredited cord blood laboratory.
  
• First year cost (as of June 2006) is only $845 (this includes first year of storage).
  
• Parents are responsible to arrange and pay for return shipping of the collection.
  
• Payment plans are available, discounts for pre-paid storage available.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The two companies,  NeoCells LLC, which banks cord blood storage, and AdultCells LLC, which banks adult stem cells, are both subsidiaries of ViviCells International, LLC, which is "the nation's first comprehensive family stem cell bank".  The laboratory partner of Vivicells is the  Reproductive Genetics Institute (RGI), founded by Yury Verlinski, Ph.D.   RGI does research on embryonic stem cells and claims to have isolated cell lines with specific disease markers.  RGI has clinics around the world, in Chicago and Oakbrook, IL, USA,  London, UK, Larnaca, Cyprus, St. Petersburg, Russia, Kieve, Ukraine, Tokyo, Japan, and Belize.

The cord blood laboratory of Neocells is completely separate from the stem cell laboratory of Reproductive Genetics Institute, even though its directors are also affiliated with RGI.  The Scientific Directors of the Neocells cord blood laboratory are Anver Kuliev, M.D., PhD and Gennady Tsukerman, M.D., PhD.  Both doctors are experts on genetic disorders and Dr. Kuliev also currently operates the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Prevention of Genetic Disorders.

Feeder website: www.CordBloodInformation.com

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INTERNET: www.newbornblood.com  
PHONE: 888-948-CORD
OFFICE: Tampa, FL
STORAGE: Tampa, FL
ACCREDITATION: none

COMMENT: Emphasis on storage of whole blood, with no red cell or plasma depletion. 
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Newborn was founded by parents working out of their home in the Tampa Bay area.  It is now operated in a building adjacent to the home and employs a laboratory manager.
• Profiled 26 April 2004 in the St. Petersburg Times
• Discount $100 for early enrollment.
• First year cost of only $1095.
• Final storage in blood bags in liquid nitrogen dewar.
• Discount for pre-paid storage.
  

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INTERNET: www.cordbloodbank.com  
PHONE: 888-700-CORD
OFFICE: Boston, MA
STORAGE: New England Cryogenic Center, Boston, MA
ACCREDITATION: AABB, NY

COMMENT: New England Cord Blood Bank is one of the original private cord blood banks. New England Cryogenic Center, the largest cryogenic facility in North America, is the parent company of New England Cord Blood Bank.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The NECBB processing method separates cells with two cycles of centrifuge spinning; this technique is known in the medical literature as "Ficoll-Hypaque" density centrifugation.
• In the past, NECBB stored in multiple cryovials, plus smaller vials for pre-transplant testing.  Starting 1 Dec 2006, NECBB stores in multi-compartment bags.
  
• Cost includes Fedex transport; courier shipping costs $150 extra.
• Customer support available 24/7. No late/rush enrollment fees. 
  
• Payment plan of one year at no interest available to all families.  Extended payment plans available through CapitalOne Healthcare Financing Group.
  
• NECBB will reimburse up to $125 of the physician's collection fee directly to the provider.
  
• Previous NECBB customers save $426 on subsequent births.
• Discounts for multiple births, families that are active duty military, and grandparents with AARP membership.
  
• Prepay storage for 20 years and save $580.

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INTERNET: www.PacifiCord.com
PHONE: 1-888-379-CORD (2673)
OFFICE: Irvine, CA
STORAGE: Irvine, CA
ACCREDITATION: California Biologics (comparable to AABB)

COMMENT:
PacifiCord is a HealthBanks Biotech Company.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• PacifiCord initially is targeting parents within 150 miles of their Irvine laboratory: they offer free pre-natal classes, facility tours, and the ability to process cord blood within 24 hours or less from birth.
  
• PacifiCord recommends collection of cord blood before delivery of the placenta, using gravity drip into a bag.
• Courier service is included in the contract.
  
• PacifiCord employs dedicated drivers within their primary market in Southern California; beyond SoCal they use a specialty medical courier.
• PacifiCord separates MonoNuclear Cells with the AutoXpress Process (AXP) developed by  Thermogenesis.  This method is an automated, fully closed, and sterile system.
  
• PacifiCord stores cells in liquid nitrogen in the automated BioArchive freezer developed by Thermogenesis.
• Final storage is in Thermogenesis blow-molded bags with two 25 ml compartments with three attached testing segments.
  
• For final storage, the blood bag is first wrapped in a sealed teflon sheath to keep each client's cells quarantined.
  
• First year's storage included in processing fee.
  
• Discounts for prepaid storage, twins, repeat customers, client referrals, and military families.
• Interest-free payment plans available.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
PacifiCord is the first cord blood bank founded in the USA by a company from overseas: the parent company HealthBanks Biotech operates one of the largest family cord blood banks in Taiwan.  The CEO of PacifiCord, Dan Segal, spent much of his career in charge of sales and marketing for Thermogenesis, the company which designed the lab equipment used by PacifCord (and many other cord blood banks, both public and family).

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INTERNET: www.rmilabs.com
PHONE: 877-844-7379
OFFICE: SIRM offices in Las Vegas, Nevada
STORAGE: Community Blood Services laboratory in Allendale, NJ
ACCREDITATION: AABB

COMMENT:
RMI offers cord blood banking primarily to clients of the Sher Institutes of Reproductive Medicine (SIRM), and to the general public on an individual basis.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• SIRM is a network of fertility clinics which currently (Jan 2008) includes physicians based in the states CA, PA, IL, MO, NJ, NV, NY, and TX.
• The cord blood laboratory at Community Blood Services handles all private cord blood units the same way, but each bank which stores at their lab has a separate freezer.
• The transplant quota is from the public bank at Community Blood Services.
• The Community Blood Services processing method (as of 1 Sept 2007) is the 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.  Because the anti-coagulant is already in the bag, the bag carries BLA licensure from the FDA.
• RMI does not list a standard price for their services.
  
• RMI says there is no enrollment fee, the first year of storage is included in all payment plans, and clients are offered 3 payment structures.
  

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INTERNET: www.safetycord.com
PHONE: +1 305 432 2673
OFFICE: San Juan, Puerto Rico
STORAGE: Community Blood Services, Allendale, NJ
ACCREDITATION: AABB

COMMENT:
Website in Spanish only.  Safetycord operates primarily in Puerto Rico, which is a United States protectorate, hence they are listed as a USA bank.  They also provide services to all Spanish speaking countries, as well as Spanish speaking families worldwide (including the United States).

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Safetycord is a marketing company which serves Spanish-speaking people, and they operate in partnership with the cord blood laboratory of Community Blood Services in NJ. 
  
• Safetycord provides shipping as part of their contract, with courier pick up of the blood from the hospital.
  
• Community Blood Services handles all private cord blood units the same way, but each bank which stores at their lab has a separate freezer.
• The transplant quota is from the public bank at Community Blood Services.
• The Community Blood Services processing method (as of 1 Sept 2007) is the 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.  Because the anti-coagulant is already in the bag, the bag carries BLA licensure from the FDA.
• Safetycord processing includes high resolution HLA typing and CD34 counts of all collections: these are tests which are required prior to transplant, and which most family banks defer to a future date.
• Safetycord clients have a secure web page through which they can submit the family medical history and track the status of their cord blood.
  
• Safetycord processing fee includes the first year of storage.
• Discount available for 20 years storage pre-paid.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:


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INTERNET: www.securacell.com
PHONE: 866-836-CELL
OFFICE: Canton, OH
STORAGE: unknown
ACCREDITATION: no

COMMENT: Securacell is an independent company, not an affiliate of another bank.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Securacell staff includes nurses to counsel patients.
• Overnight shipping is included in price.
• Enrollment fee only charged once per family.  No late enrollment fees.
• First year storage included in processing fees.
  
• Six different payment plans.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Securacell is a marketing company which sub-contracts to a laboratory for cord blood processing and storage.  Over the years, their contract laboratory has changed.  Prior to summer 2004, Securacell used the laboratory of New England Cryogenic Center, in Boston, MA.  In the summer of 2004, Securacell formed a partnership with BioStorage Technologies of Indianapolis, IN.  However, they subsequently switched to the laboratory of General BioTechnology (aka The Genesis Bank), in Indianapolis, IN.  As of 2008, Securacell was using the laboratory of Community Blood Services in Allendale, NJ.

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INTERNET: www.StemCyteFamily.com  
PHONE: 866-389-4659
OFFICE: StemCyte, Covina, CA
STORAGE: StemCyte, Covina, CA
ACCREDITATION: AABB, FACT/Netcord,  CA, MD, NJ, NY

COMMENT: StemCyte is a global for-profit company which started as a public cord blood bank which participates in the NMDP cord blood registry.  StemCyte has one of the world's largest collections of Asian and Latino cord blood collections and has been funded by the US government to expand the National Cord Blood Inventory.  The StemCyte family division offers private cord blood banking at the same laboratory.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• List of transplants; four were privately banked (2 USA, 2 Taiwan) and the rest are from the StemCyte public bank.  
  
• StemCyte family services share the laboratory of the StemCyte public bank.  The family collections are processed by the same protocol but stored in separate dedicated freezers with their own security identification system.
  
• StemCyte is the only family cord blood bank which uses a lab with FACT/Netcord accreditation.
  
• StemCyte is one of only two family banks that provide a temperature-controlled shipping container.
• Price includes shipping by Quick International medical courier.
• StemCyte has a unique processing method which stores plasma-depleted whole blood, rather than separating MonoNuclear Cells by red cell depletion.  StemCyte has published in the journal BBMT Nov. 2007 that they have a 99.9% recovery of Total Nucleated Cells (TNC).
• StemCyte offers family customers a financial guarantee: If you need to use your child's stem cells and they fail to engraft, you will receive a refund of all fees paid and an additional $50,000.
• StemCyte offers family customers a LifeSaver® Quality Guarantee: If your child's cord blood stem cells are used in transplantation and fail to engraft, StemCyte will refund all service fees paid by the client, and pay the client an additional $50,000 in addition to a replacement sample from the donor bank if one is available.  StemCyte can offer this replacement option because unlike most companies offering family banking they are primarily a public bank.
  
• Discounts: currently (Feb 2009) offering $400 off: $250 with coupon plus $150 if you pay upon enrollment.
• Discount to medical professionals $800 off.
• Discount to active, reserve, and veteran military personnel, or fire and police related professionals, are all $550 off.
  
• Further discounts may be available: Call for special promotions.
  
• First year storage included in processing fees, discount available on pre-paid storage.
• Refer a friend, and get one year free storage or $100.
• StemCyte is part of the federal Related Donor Cord Blood Program: Call to apply for assistance if a family member has a case of medical need.
• Stemcyte holds a drawing every 3 months which awards a family free cord blood banking: www.FreeCordBloodBanking.com

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

StemCyte was founded in the year 1997 with $20 million in venture capital; StemCyte started offering family banking in 2004.  In summer 2005, a press release from StemCyte claimed that an additional $13.7 million had been raised for operations in the United States and Taiwan.  In addition to participating in the USA National Cord Blood Inventory (via NMDP), StemCyte also operates the national public cord blood bank in Taiwan.  In 2007, Stemcyte was ranked the number one biotechnology company in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for Los Angeles, a ranking compiled by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.  Rankings are based on the percentage revenue growth over five years from 2002-2006, a period during which StemCycte's revenues increased 1888%.

StemCyte is participating in the following clinical trials:

• Thalassemia  – StemCyte has been collaborating on a multi-center study of cord blood transplantation as a treatment for Thalassemia Major in Taiwan.  Dr. Robert Chow, founder and vice chairman of StemCyte, presented results from this study on behalf of Dr. Jaing at the Dec. 2006 ASH meeting, and the abstract is published in the journal Blood.

• Spinal Cord Injury - StemCyte is conducting a clinical trial in Taiwan which hopes to accrue 60 patients to study the use of cord blood to repair Spinal Cord Injury.  This trial is in collaboration with Dr. Wise Young of the Rutgers University W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience.
  

• Reduction of Incidences of Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGvHD) - Plasma-depleted cord blood can be effectively transplanted into patients without first undergoing post-thaw washing, and was found to reduce the incidence of extensive cGvHD, according to research presented by Robert Chow, M.D.

• Treatment of Non-Malignant Disorders with Plasma Depleted Cord Blood -In what was named one of the six Pediatric Best Abstracts, 120 children received treatment for non-malignant disorders through transplants of StemCyte cord blood products that maximize cell dose by using plasma-depletion and eliminating post-thaw wash. The study, presented by Dr. Rosenthal, M.D., Director of Pediatric Transplantation at the City of Hope National Medical Center, reported overall survival of 88±4% and disease-free survival 84±5%.

• Plasma-Depleted Cord Blood Effective in Treating Adult Malignancies - According to an abstract submitted by Auayporn Nademanee, M.D., of City of Hope National Medical Center, single and double cord blood transplants with StemCyte products can be safely and effectively performed on adult patients with various forms of leukemia.  Adults who received double cord blood transplants with plasma depleted products did not demonstrate higher rate of acute or chronic GvHD than those who received single cord blood transplants.

• Comparison of StemCyte’s Plasma Depleted versus Standard Red Cell Reduced Cord Blood - To compare the two processig methods, researchers matched 92 pairs of patients on the basis of disease type, disease status, age, weight, and tissue type matching.  Dr. Graham showed that patients transplanted with plasma-depleted cord blood received higher cell dose, had lower transplant-related mortality, superior engraftment and overall survival.

• Stem Cell Transplantation for Treatment and Immune Reconstitution of HIV patients - This is a collaboration in progress between StemCyte, UCLA Medical Center, and City of Hope.  The goal is to identify cord blood units which possess known a gene mutation that protects against HIV, and conduct a clinical trial to see if transplants with those cord blood units can benefit HIV patients.  StemCyte has a patent pending on this technology.
  

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INTERNET: www.stork.md
PHONE: 866-65-STORK
OFFICE: Columbus, GA
STORAGE: Community Blood Services laboratory in Allendale, NJ
ACCREDITATION: AABB

COMMENT:
Stork medical emphasizes that they have spectacular customer service, price guarantees, and a commitment to charitable works.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• After you have chosen to contract with Stork, you will be contacted by a Stork doctor to make certain all of your questions have been answered.  You will also be assigned a client support specialist who remains available to assist the family throughout the process.
• Stork’s doctors and nurses are always available to answer your questions.
• Stork does not hire sales people, no one will pester you; they only hire customer support staff.
  
• Stork provides courier service which specializes in tissue transport and in most cases will pick-up the blood from your hospital room.
• The cord blood laboratory at Community Blood Services handles all private cord blood units the same way, but each bank which stores at their lab has a separate freezer.
• The transplant quota is from the public bank at Community Blood Services.
• The Community Blood Services processing method is the 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.  Because the anti-coagulant is already in the bag, the bag carries BLA licensure from the FDA.
• Stork’s Total Price Guarantee firmly promises that your total cost for cord blood services, including the entire doctor’s fee, is $1700 until the baby’s first birthday.
• Annual storage fee fixed at $108 for at least ten years.
• Payment plans available, discounts for prepaid storage.
  
• Gift Registry available.
• Should your baby's cord blood ever be needed, retrieval is free.
• Stork Medical offers a unique program of Military Cord Blood Banking: all current and former military personnel qualify for dramatic discounts, with deeper discounts for veterans who were wounded and disabled.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Stork Medical was founded by Jonathan Liss, M.D.  The charitable program of Military Cord Blood Banking is partially supported by donations to a Hero's Fund, and has twice been honored by Congress.

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INTERNET:  www.utahcordbank.com
PHONE: 877-UCB-STEM  (1-877-822-7836)
OFFICE: Sandy, Utah
STORAGE: Sandy, Utah
ACCREDITATION: no

COMMENT:
The Utah Cord Bank is focused on serving local clients, stressing that their laboratory is in Utah and that courier service is provided to insure rapid delivery and processing of the cord blood.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Collection procedure is gravity drip into a blood bag.
• Collection fee includes courier service within the state of Utah.
• Cord blood is manually processed by technicians.
• Utah Cord Bank laboratory procedures emphasize the complete separation of MNC, even separating neutrophils (small white cells) and platelets (small cells used in clotting).
• Utah Cord Bank stores MonoNuclear Cells (MNC) in multiple vials in liquid nitrogen.  The vials from a single donor are held together by a sealed sheath.
• Discount coupons available at most Utah hospitals for participants in prenatal or childbirth classes.
• Storage fee of $85 is guaranteed for 10 years (as of March 2008).
• Utah Cord Bank advertises (March 2008) that they will match or beat competitor prices within Utah.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Utah Cord Bank started cord blood operations in 2007 and have not yet been inspected for accreditation.  It will be interesting to see if this bank receives accreditation by AABB.  The AABB requirements state that all the blood from a donor be "integrally attached", and most cord blood banks accomplished this by storing in bags, whereas Utah Cord Bank uses vials attached in a sheath.


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INTERNET: www.viacord.com  
PHONE: 866-668-4895
OFFICE: Cambridge, MA
STORAGE: Hebron, KY, outside Cincinnati, OH.
ACCREDITATION: AABB, NJ, NY

COMMENT: Viacord is one of the original private cord blood banks; they have become a subsidiary of Viacell Inc., a biotech company whose stem cell research has entered human trials. On Friday 21Jan2005, Viacell went public on Nasdaq:VIAC.
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• List of Viacord transplants
  
• Live customer support available 24/7; parents or physician can phone during delivery.
• Courier transport with Quick International is available for a flat fee of $150 extra.
• The Viacord collection kit provides a ChloraPrep® One-Step Frepp® Applicator to clean the umbilical cord prior to collecting the cord blood.
• In April 2006, Viacord introduced an FDA-approved sterile collection bag Cell Sentinel(TM) which is suitable for surgical deliveries. This was developed in collaboration with medical equipment manufacturer Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL).
  
• The Viacord processing method is the 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. 
  
• The Sepax processing system has BLA licensure from the FDA.  This means that it is classified as a drug, instead of a medical device, because the bag already contains anti-coagulant instead of having to add it later.
  
• More than 120,000 cord blood units have been processed worldwide with the Sepax system, mostly at public banks.  In their validation of the Sepax system, Viacord achieved 88% recovery of CD34+ marked stem cells.
  
•  If the final stem cell count is low (for transplant use), parents have the option to not bank and receive a refund.
  
• No enrollment fee. First year storage included in processing fees.
• Payment plans start at $43/month. Storage fee fixed at $125.
• Viacord referral program awards a $50 gift card if a friend enrolls.  Viacord also has a Gift Registry.
  
• In-house program to help physicians with the paperwork of billing a patient's insurance for cord blood collection.
• Charity Program: Viacord is currently running the Sibling Donor Cord Blood Program for Dr. Lubin of Children's Hospital in Oakland (CHORI).  To enroll call the special number 866-861-8435.
• As of May 2008, Viacord claims an inventory of 150,000 cord blood units stored.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

In the summer of 2002, Viacord built a proprietary laboratory and storage facility in Hebron, KY (outside Cincinnati, OH) and began processing cord blood to separate MNC. Previously, Viacord stored whole blood at the Hoxworth Blood Center of the Univ. of Cincinnati, but those collections were moved to Hebron.

Viacord's parent company, Viacell Inc., has several research partnerships and several products in development.  See their website for the current status of these projects.  Of particular note:

• The CEO of Viacell, Marc Beer, is a former officer of Genzyme, one of Viacell's partners.
  
• In Nov 2003 Viacell acquired the European company Kourion Therapeutics, which claims to have isolated multi-potent stem cells, which they call "Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells", from cord blood.
• In Dec 2003 Amgen invested $20 million in Viacell.
• In Sept 2004 Viacell obtained exclusive rights to a patent for cryopreservation of human oocytes (unfertilized eggs) developed by Galileo Research Laboratories.  The resulting product is called ViaCyte(SM) and will enter clinical trial in 2006.
• On Friday, 21 Jan 2005, Viacell issued an IPO and went public on Nasdaq stock exchange as VIAC.
  
• In Sept 2005, Viacell  had to suspend a phase I clinical trial in which patients were receiving transplants of expanded cord blood.  The trial was stopped because two patients (out of 8) developed acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGVHD; both recovered). 
  
• In Feb 2006 Viacell opened a new corporate headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., with laboratory space for research and development, as well as manufacturing of cell products for clinical trials.  ViaCell also has research and development operations in Singapore.
• In 2006 Viacell also entered a research partnership with Centocor to evaluate, in preclinical studies, the cardiac applications of cord blood stem cells using the Cordis Corporation's NOGA XP delivery system.
• In Jan 2007 Viacell launched an exclusive 3 year marketing agreement with the largest retailer of maternity clothes, Mothers Work, Inc.
  
• In Feb 2007, Viacord closed its "CB001" clinical trial of transplanting expanded cord blood.

Quarterly Reports of public companies can be accessed by searching under their name at the SEC web site Edgar. The financial analysis website, Motley Fool (requires registration), frequently writes about Viacell.   Viacell has been using the income from its Viacord cord blood banking to underwrite its research programs.  On the whole, the company has been losing money, but hopes to turn the corner in 2007.  In Feb 2007, a financial review of Viacell operations was published by Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.  

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INTERNET: www.vistacord.com
PHONE: 888-330-CORD (2673)
OFFICE: Starkville, MS
STORAGE: Starkville, MS
ACCREDITATION: no

COMMENT:
Vista Cord is a fairly new cord blood bank which has its own laboratory.  The founders of Vista Cord are dedicated to the belief that cord blood banking should be affordable to all parents. 
 
SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• The founders of Vista Cord are the directors of the laboratory.  Literally every cord blood sample is checked for quality control by the founders.
  
• All laboratory staff are credentialed biochemistry specialists with a minimum bachelor's degree.
• Vista Cord separates the MonoNuclear cells from cord blood by spinning the blood in a centrifuge.  This method results in a very small final volume and the cells can be stored in vials.
• Cost includes courier transport with AirNet.
• Payment plan available.
  
• Discounts available for prepaid storage.
• Discount for twins.
  

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INTERNET: www.xytexcordblood.com
PHONE: 800-277-3210 or Email tissues@xytex.com
OFFICE: Augusta, GA
STORAGE: Augusta, GA
ACCREDITATION: ISO

COMMENT:
The parent company of Xytex Cord Blood Bank is Xytex International, a provider of reproductive services and tissue storage since 1975.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

• Xytex Cord Blood Bank was founded in 2008 and operates from its own dedicated laboratory.
  
• Xytex contract covers the base cost of shipping the collected blood to the lab.  Extra shipping charges may apply for rush delivery of the collection kit or shipment of the collected blood on holidays.
  
• Xytex collection method is gravity drip into a blood bag.
  
• Cord blood collections are manually processed by licensed clinical laboratory technologists.
• The processing method is red cell depletion with the chemical hespan; the two steps are sedimentation and centrifugation.
• The final sample of MonoNuclearCells is tested for CD34+ counts. 
• Final storage is in blood bags in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen. 
• Since Xytex just began cord blood operations, their first inspection for AABB accreditation is scheduled for early 2009.
  
• As of 2008, total first year cost is $1475 (including first year storage).
  
• Discount for 18 years storage pre-paid at $1530.
• Discounts available to Xytex employees and clients.
• Payment plans as low as $40/month available through CareCredit.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Xytex Cord Blood Bank is a subsidiary of Xytex Tissue Storage, which is part of Xytex International Ltd..  They commenced cord blood banking in spring 2008, but have provided cryogenic storage for reproductive purposes since 1975.  Xytex also conducts research and has an international medical advisory board.

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