Family Bank: Krio FamiCord

About

KRIO Intézet Családi Őssejtbank (KRIO Institute Cell and Tissue Bank) Ltd. was the first family cord blood bank to establish a laboratory in Hungary in 2004. They are currently the largest family stem cell bank in Hungary, storing samples for more than 60,000 families. The processing and freezing of umbilical cord blood are carried out using AABB-accredited technology and laboratory facilities.

The KRIO Institute is a member of the FamiCord Group, Europe's largest stem cell bank network and the 3^rd biggest cord blood bank in the world.

Labs and Locations

KRIO owns their own laboratory, located at: KRIO Institute Laboratory, Budapest 1045 Berlini u. 47-49

Business Experience

FamiCord Group (operating under the name FamiCord AG since 2025, following the merger of PBKM and Vita 34 in 2021) is the European market leader and the third-largest stem cell bank worldwide. The Group has secured over 1.5 million biological material samples (mostly cord blood, cord tissue, placental blood, placenta). FamiCord has a robust operational infrastructure: 13 processing and storage laboratories, 2 storage only laboratories, and 3 cell & gene GMP centers for CDMO activity, controlling approximately 55-60% of the European cord blood banking market.

Supplying stem cells for medical use remains at the core of the Group's focus. FamiCord actively supports the use of stem cells in treatments, with a history of over 8,500 patients treated with 16,500 stem cell preparations including 278 cord blood applications (as of June 2026). The Group has been involved in several clinical trials in the area of: cardiology, neurology, dermatology, orthopedics and others in the role of sole sponsor, co-sponsor or supplier of cell-based ATMP. FamiCord also actively participates in cerebral palsy treatment programs for children [Expanded Access Program conducted in Lublin, Poland].

The CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) activity, primarily under the Bramble Bio brand, remains an advanced technological pillar. Through 3 specialized CDMO centers located in Germany, Poland and Portugal, the Group provides comprehensive manufacturing services for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) in compliance with cGMP standards, strengthening its position as a trusted contract manufacturer for the biotechnology industry.

Regarding the development of CAR-T cell therapies (oncology), the Group has revised its strategy. FamiCordTx, initially developed as an internal venture, is now an independent entity with which FamiCord Group is affiliated (holding an approximately 20% stake). This allows the Group to focus its resources on its core business and commercial B2B services.

The scale of medical operations is built on solid financial foundations. In 2025, FamiCord Group generated sales revenues of EUR 88.17 million (a 7.3% year-over-year increase) with significant proportion of recurrent revenue. The Group achieved an EBITDA of EUR 10.6 million (a 12.3% y/y increase). FamiCord AG is listed at Deutsche Boerse in Franfurt and is backed mostly by financial shareholders (AOC – private equity, SVF – investment fund, Nationale Netherlanden – pension fund and others). This guarantees absolute stability and security for the long-term storage of materials entrusted by patients.

Collection Kit

KRIO uses a proprietary bag developed by the CryoProfile company for PBKM. Type of anticoagulant: CPD. The collection kit contains collection procedures for birth centre staff, labels to ensure product traceability, and a collection report to be completed by the person in charge of the collection.

Transportation container

The KRIO shipping container is IATA certified, as it was developed on the basis of infectious substances shipping guidelines from International Air Transport Association (IATA) as well as in accordance with any applicable European standards. The container has gel packs and thermal insulation polystyrene box and is validated to maintain room temperature for days. Container includes a temperature logger.

Shipping Info

Employees of the KRIO bank or their designated couriers pick up the cord blood from birth hospitals. Both the courier and the laboratories work 7 days a week, assuring the samples are picked up and processed even during the weekends and the public holidays. Regulations require that the cord blood must be delivered to the lab and processed and frozen within 48 hours from the collection time. The contract price includes shipping.

Processing Method

KRIO laboratory technicians perform manual separation of cord blood stem cells by sedimentation and centrifuge. This processing method allows a higher stem cell recovery than that obtained with automated systems.

For clients requesting banking of tissue from the umbilical cord, laboratory technicians will mince the tissue into five 1 cm fragments for preservation. This manual processing is conducted inside isolators to minimize the risk of contamination from the environment.

It is also possible for clients to request isolation and banking of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) from the cord tissue. The technicians of PBKM Famicord laboratory will cultivate up to 10 million cells and divide them for storage into five separate cryo-tubes.

Several quality tests are performed during processing: complete blood cell count (CBC), nRBC, WBC recovery, total nucleated cell count (TNC), CD34+ cell viability and concentration, microbiological analysis, ABO group. Maternal blood tests for infectious diseases are reported as well.

Components Stored

The main components of umbilical cord blood are separated during processing: plasma, red blood cells, and white blood cells. The “buffy coat“, which holds both white cells and stem cells, is separated for storage. Also, four testing segments are stored. Parents are provided with a certificate describing test results (cell counts, viability, and the mother‘s serological tests for infectious agents).

Storage Method

The cryobag containing stem cells is placed in a metal cassette and then enters a computerized temperature-reducing system. After temperature reaches -150°C, the sample is moved to a storage tank where vapors of cryogenic nitrogen maintain the temperature at -196°C. First the sample stays in temporary storage in quarantine freez,er in case any maternal blood tests are doubtful for infectious agents, then it is moved to a long term freezer in the vapor phase of cryogenic nitrogen.

Licensing & Accreditation

KRIO is accredited by AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies).

Clinical Experience

• FamiCord Group has provided more than 8,500 clinical stem cell therapies worldwide, including both standard hematopoietic stem cell transplantations and experimental/regenerative medicine therapies.
• Famicord Group has released 278 cord blood units for therapy as of June 2026.
• The Group has extensive experience in releasing autologous cord blood units for children diagnosed with neurological disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral palsy (CP), under dedicated therapeutic access programs.
• Selected laboratories within the FamiCord network also participate in public cord blood banking programs and collect cord blood donations intended for unrelated donor transplantations.
• FamiCord Group actively participates in clinical trials, observational studies, and compassionate use programs involving cord blood and mesenchymal stem cell therapies in neurological, hematological, immunological, and regenerative medicine indications. More information: https://famicord.com/science-and-clinical-trials/
• Through its GMP-certified manufacturing facilities in Poland and Portugal, FamiCord develops and manufactures advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) based on cord blood, perinatal tissues, and mesenchymal stem cells. The Group is involved in translational medicine projects focused on developing innovative regenerative therapies and cell-based medicinal products.
• FamiCord collaborates with leading hospitals, transplantation centers, and regenerative medicine clinics across Europe and internationally, supporting innovative therapeutic programs using cord blood and perinatal stem cells.

Community Service

The Cancer Treatment Program: Based on a doctor’s recommendation, the processing of umbilical cord blood and the umbilical cord tissue, as well as the storage of the samples for 5 years, is free of charge under the Program. Since its launch in 2009, the Program has enrolled more than 32 families, and 3 successful transplants have been performed.

Prices

Please check our prices with our online offer calculator: https://ossejt.krio.hu/ajanlatkalkulator

Additional Services

• SMA screening
• Gluten sensitivity mother/baby test (noninvasive from cord blood)
• Lactose sensitivity mother/baby test (noninvasive from cord blood)
• Thrombosis test