Family Bank: BSCU

About

Business Experience

Banco de Células Madre de Cordón Umbilical (BSCU) was founded by Angeles Group, the biggest hospital-chain in Mexico. BSCU processes, stores, and releases transplants of stem cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood. Since 2004 BSCU stores cord blood. Since 2004 they have stored cord blood. For over a decade BSCU worked with the laboratory of Hospital Angeles in México City, until in early 2016 they formed a joint venture with the private equity company CryoHoldCo. BSCU clients are now sent to the laboratory of another CryoHoldCo company, Cryo-Cell in Guadalajara.

Collection Kit

The BSCU collection bag is made by TERUMO, and it is sterile both inside and outside so that it can be used in the operating room for a C-section.  The collection bag contains the anti-coagulant CPD, and comes accompanied with instructions for the sterile collection-method. The collection kit also comes with 2 vials for maternal serum samples.

Shipping Info

Shipping arrangements are made by BSCU.

• Local (Mexico City) samples will be collected at the hospital of origin by employees of BSCU and will be transported in containers with thermal insulation to our processing facility. Costs will be covered by BSCU.
• Foreign samples (outside Mexico City) will be collected at the hospital of origin by employees of BSCU and will be transported by DHL or Estrella Blanca, with instructions for packing and maintaining at room-temperature, to our processing facility. Costs will be covered by the parents.

Processing Method

Cord blood is processed by the fully automated Sepax system from the Swiss company Biosafe. The Sepax system maintains a testing segment of cord blood integrally attached to the main storage bag, which serves as quality control and ensures that the storage conditions are the same in the testing segment and the whole sample.

The processing system for bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, and as a contingency plan we use: manual separation using the Rubinstein method with Hidroxyethyl starch solution (HES 6%). With this method we utilize a closed system distributed by Thermogenesis.

Components Stored

BSCU stores the "buffy coat" layer of blood that holds white cells and stem cells, together with 3 testing portions. 

Storage Method

Final storage is in a blood bag that has 2 compartments, plus 3 aliquots, encased in over wrap and held in a metal canister.  BSCU stores cord blood in a BioArchive automated freezer from Thermogenesis, which is cooled by liquid nitrogen. Bone marrow and Peripheral blood samples are stored in freezers cooled by the vapor phase of cryogenic nitrogen.

Licensing & Accreditation

BSCU is licensed by the Mexican National Ministry of Health, license number SSA08T09008018, and is accredited by ISO 9001:2000.  Accreditation under ISO 9001:2008 is in preparation.

Clinical Experience

BSCU processes, stores, and releases transplants of stem cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood. Plus, BSCU has experience with clinical trials.

Community Service

BSCU welcomes opportunities for community service.  For children at the cancer treatment facility in Guadelajara, Mexico, BSCU provides at-cost preparation and storage of stem cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood.  BSCU also offers special discounts to members of some Cancer Foundations.

Prices

Collection Kit: 3628.67 MXN (Roughly 280.00 USD)
Processing: 11,427.66 MXN (Roughly 880.00 USD)
Storage: 2109.66 MXN (Roughly 162.00 USD)
The first year of storage is included in the initial payment.

Discount Packages:
        5 year all inclusive: 25,198.94 (Roughly 1,938.38 USD)
        10 year all inclusive: 34,530.13 MXN (Roughly 2,656.17 USD)