Family Bank: Healthcord

About

Healthcord Cryogenics Corp. is a Canadian biotechnology company founded by PhD scientists in 2003 to specialize in the collection and cryopreservation of stem cells for potential therapeutic use. Healthcord Cryogenics is a leading and well recognized Canadian cord blood bank, with over 20 years of experience and a state-of-the-art, AABB-accredited laboratory. Healthcord is committed to delivering high-quality service, transparency, and secure long-term storage. The company offers personalized support and innovative next-generation computer-controlled vapor phase storage solutions, providing families across Canada with lifelong peace of mind.

Labs and Locations

Healthcord processes and cryopreserves in Canada, in either their Vancouver or Toronto facilities. The laboratory has restricted access, is alarmed, and patrolled after hours. Cryogenic storage equipment is monitored 24/7, with back-up systems in place. Healthcord’s strict quality control protocols and policies exceed AABB standards, endeavoring to provide the highest level of security for the cord blood of their clients’ children.

Collection Kit

Cord Blood Collection Bag - Dual needle, sterile, medical-grade cord blood collection bags allow delivering physicians to maximize collection of a maximum quantity of cord blood into the cord blood bag. The cord blood bag is compatible with both natural and caesarean deliveries. Healthcord was a pioneer in the inclusion of temperature loggers in every cord blood kit.

Cord Tissue Collection Vessel - Cord tissue is collected into a vessel that contains tissue culture media and antibiotic/antimycotic additive to minimize risk of microbial growth prior to reaching the processing facility.

Transportation container

Healthcord uses a 1.5 inch thick Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) container and two phase-change bags to guard against extreme temperatures in both high and low ranges during transport. A temperature logger also stays with the sample during transport to continuously monitor the sample and ensures sample quality.

Shipping Info

Healthcord uses tested and well regarded couriers to pick up samples. In many major cities, Healthcord is able to pick up cord blood from the bedside (where the hospital policies permit), guaranteeing timely delivery of clients’ samples. Additionally, Healthcord has made strong efforts to provide access to cord blood banking from smaller communities with very low volume of births where other cord blood banks do not provide service. This is due to the strong focus of Healthcord as a Canada-based company.

Processing Method

Before cryopreserving the sample, Healthcord tests for all required infectious diseases according to highly stringent Health Canada and CSA guidelines and standards.

A closed-system processing approach using integrally attached processing and storage bags specifically designed for cord blood processing is used. The use of radiofrequency heat sealers and sterile tubing welders keeps the possibility of sample contamination to an absolute minimum. These instruments, along with use of integrated transfer/freezing bags, reduces the risk of sample infection, ensuring the safety of our banked products.

Healthcord also uses computer-controlled rate freezers that cool the cells using freeze profiles that have been optimized to minimize cryogenic damage to the stem cells.  Computer controlled addition of cryopreservants further maximizes cell viabiity by ensuring consistency.

Healthcord uses a single-platform enumeration system for quantitation of CD34+ stem cells, widely regarded as being the most accurate method of stem cell enumeration. By using a single platform approach, more standardized and accurate measures of the total number of stem cells in each sample can be acquired, which is critical when samples are accessed in the future.

Components Stored

Healthcord stores the “buffy coat” of the cord blood that contains stem cells, after reducing plasma and red blood cell content. Their system preserves nucleated cells with >95% recovery according to generally accepted industry standards. The addition of DMSO and dextran cryopreservant to maximize cell recovery post-thaw per industry standard applies.

Once a client’s child’s cord blood is successfully banked, a Healthcord representative will notify the parents immediately. A certificate indicating the successful storage and banking of the cord blood sample will be issued - it will include the stem cell quantity and storage conditions.

Storage Method

Healthcord was one of the first cord blood banks to exclusively use vapor phase storage (since 2003), in order to minimize the shock of plunging samples directly into the liquid phase. By suspending cord blood samples in liquid nitrogen vapor, the risk of sample cross-contamination is also reduced. High efficiency tanks specifically designed for vapor phase storage have always been and continue to be used for all samples.

Licensing & Accreditation

• Health Canada Approved
• AABB Accredited
• CAP (College of American Pathologists) Certified

Prices

• The most recent pricing for Healthcord can be viewed at our website, healthcord.com.
• The processing fee for cord blood only has been set at $1,125; and for cord blood & tissue at $1,795
• Annual storage fee for cord blood only is at $153 per year; for cord blood & tissue banking, the annual storage fee is at $291 per year.
• Substantial discounts are offered on prepaid storage, for 10, 20, and 30 years.
• Clients are able to choose to pay in full or distribute payment over 12 months for a nominal cost.