Family Bank: CryoSave South Africa

About

CryoSave South Africa is a private stem cell bank giving parents-to-be the opportunity to collect, process and cryopreserve their baby’s stem cells for future potential medical use.

Labs and Locations

The CryoSave South Africa Laboratory was established in Pretoria in January 2013:
Ground Floor, Acacia House,
Green Hill Village Office Park,
Corner Botterklapper & Nentabos Street,
The Willows, 0041 Pretoria, South Africa

Business Experience

CryoSave South Africa is jointly owned by GoLife International Limited, a healthcare company listed on both the Mauritius (SEM) and South African (JSE Alt X) exchanges, and Esperite N.V., a European listed company.

CryoSave SA is a trusted private family stem cell bank in South Africa. For those parents who prefer to store their baby’s stem cells overseas, CryoSave SA has partnered with PBKM FamiCord, the number one cord blood bank in Europe and the 5th biggest in the world, for the long-term storage of cord blood and cord tissue in Europe. PBKM FamiCord offers services in over 20 countries around the world and also has the most experience in the transfer of stem cells for transplantation.

Collection Kit

This world class Collection Kit is designed and manufactured in Europe according to the strict standards of the European Union and conforms with the EU-applicable Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC. Article 12, as amended by 2007/47/EC.

Each Collection Kit uses high tech NeoPor packaging which has superior insulation qualities and temperature stabilizing cool packs that will ensure optimal transport conditions are maintained regardless of the climatic conditions. This is the best way to safely transport your baby's blood to ensure maximum cell viability is maintained. All materials in the collection kit are sterile both inside & outside so that they can be used in an operating room during a C-Section.

Before the delivery of the baby, the CryoSave customer receives a collection kit enabling physicians or midwives to collect the umbilical cord blood & tissue. CryoSave provides them with adequate information and training beforehand as appropriate.

Transportation container

• CryoSave's container conforms to Art. 12 of the MDD and is EU approved.
• CryoSave's container has activated cool packs AND thermal insulation in the transport box.
• CryoSave's container is validated to maintain temperature within set criteria under test conditions.
• CryoSave's container is guaranteed to maintain temperature for a certain number of hours, to permit a safe arrival at the lab.
• CryoSave's container includes a temperature logger (where mandatory).

Shipping Info

The contract price includes shipping. Soon after birth, the collection kit will be picked up, on behalf of CryoSave SA, by a certified international courier service and taken to CryoSave's laboratory immediately (to arrive within 48 hours). There it will be checked, processed and cryo-preserved for further storage. The courier is available on weekends and holidays.

Processing Method

Cord Blood Processing Method

CryoSave SA uses partially automated laboratory processing to reduce possible contamination and increase laboratory capacity. The volume reduction of umbilical cord blood before cryopreservation is the preferred method applied for most cord blood banks worldwide.

Cord Tissue Processing Method

CryoSave SA has 4 purpose-built clean rooms to process Umbilical Cord Tissue using a protocol that was first developed by CryoSave Europe in 2010 after extensive research and development. CryoSave South Africa has a unique cord tissue stem cell processing and testing method that determines viability by fluorescent staining.

Maternal Blood Testing

CryoSave SA performs the full spectrum of blood testing to screen for transmittable and infectious diseases/viruses that may be present in the bloods prior to confirming storage and/or transplant. The tests include a safety serology test for  HIV, HBV, HCV, CMV and Syphilis.

Components Stored

Cord Blood component stored is the "buffy coat" fraction containing white cells and stem cells, plus two contiguous testing segments. Cell counts, cell viability and sterility tests will be performed.

Storage Method

The stem cells are divided into two blood bags and preserved below -160°C in the vapour phase of cryogenic nitrogen. For additional safety, the bags can be stored at two physically separated locations. Should the cord blood supplied not meet the minimum requirements, the parents may decide whether or not to store the sample to avoid any additional cost.

• Final storage is in blood bags
• Storage container is encased in over wrap
• Computer controlled rate freezer is used to cool the stem cells

Cord blood stem cells have been shown to remain viable for at least 20 years of storage. If you choose to bank your baby’s stem cells with CryoSave SA, we will cryo-preserve your baby’s cord blood and cord tissue stem cells for at least 20 years, this period can be extended if you so wish.

Licensing & Accreditation

The CryoSave SA Quality Management System is structured according to ISO9001:2015.

Prices

• Storage of cord blood from R19 400
• Dual storage of cord blood and cord tissue from R25 800

We offer reasonable and flexible payment packages to suit every family budget. Additionally, we offer medical aid discounts as well as discounts for multiple births and for repeat clients, on specific packages. Please visit the website for more information on pricing.