Family Bank: Prevista Swiss Biobank

About

TB SWISS BIOBANK is a Bulgarian family cord blood bank that shares ownership and premises with MC PREVISTA medical clinic. Based in the capital city of Sofia, the company collaborates with more than 50 hospitals and maternity clinics across the country. 

Labs and Locations

TB SWISS BIOBANK has a partnership for processing and storage with SWISS STEM CELLS BIOTECH laboratory in Vacallo, Switzerland.

Business Experience

TB SWISS BIOBANK was founded in 2019, but previously the company worked with CryoSave Bulgaria. Thus, our new company is harboring more than 15 years of professional experience in the stem cell banking industry, with about 8`000 local customers.  

Collection Kit

The collection kit provides everything necessary for gravity collection at vaginal or C-section birth delivery. The collection bag comes with CPD as anti-coagulant and it is supplied with 2 special test tubes suitable for obtaining of specimens for analysis.

Transportation container

The transport container complies with IATA`s PI 650 procedure and  with the EC Directives 93/42/EEC and 2007/47/EC. It comes with gel packs and thermal insulation. It includes a temperature logger and is validated to maintain suitable temperature for at least 72 hours.

Shipping Info

Shipping with DHL Medical Express is included in our service prices of TB SWISS BIOBANK. We have a 24/7 pick-up service provided by our own employees and the laboratory is open  during weekends. Continuous monitoring of shipments is a routine practice with us.

Processing Method

The Swiss Stem Cells Biotech laboratory processing method is based on volume reduction with the latest automated closed system and takes place in certified clean rooms.

Components Stored

As a result of laboratory processing, the final storage is the "buffy coat" fraction of the cord blood which contains stem cells. Maternal blood is tested and archived as well. We store both stem cells from umbilical cord blood and fragments of umbilical cord tissue plus all specimens which are necessary for the bio-archive. Our clients receive special certificates containing their samples' identifiers, as well as the most important biological parameters such as cell counts and cell viability.

Storage Method

Processed samples which have passed the stringent quality-and-safety testing are released for long-term storage in vapor-phase-liquid-nitrogen (LN2) at -196°C. We use cryo-bags encased in metal over-wraps. Our cryo-tanks are supplied with continuous monitoring system and with contingency power supply, so that maximum security is assured.

Licensing & Accreditation

TB SWISS BIOBANK is accredited by the competent health authority in Bulgaria: Executive Agency for Medical Surveillance. TB SWISS BIOBANK is included in the European Tissue Establishment Compendium under the EU TE Code BG012909. TB SWISS BIOBANK holds a permanent license for both autologous and for directed allogeneic release of stored samples. 

SWISS STEM CELLS BIOTECH (SSCB) is accredited by the Swiss Federal Office of public Health and holds a broad license issued by Swissmedic (the Swiss Institute for Medicinal Products). Beyond that, SSCB is among just a few family cord blood banks worldwide which have the prestigious FACT-NetCord accreditation.

Clinical Experience

We have long-lasting experience with releasing samples to leading clinical centers such as the one at Duke University (USA). There are also numerous clinical collaborations on clinical research projects (e.g. with Cardiocentro Ticino, the University Hospital of Bern, the Swiss Stem Cells Foundation). 

Community Service

Clients of TB SWISS BIOBANK have access to the Cost-Free-Donation-Program offering free-of-charge banking to families with an immediate relative having a diagnosis for which transplantation is standard therapy. Our pricing policy includes various kinds of discounts such as discount to repeated clients, discount for the second twin in twin pregnancies, discount for medical personnel.

Prices

We have a standard enrollment fee of EUR 600 + service fee which varies depending on the type of service chosen. The service fee includes everything from courier & shipment through processing and storage, up to the costs for therapeutic release. We store the samples for 20 or for 25 years while extensions are subject to additional agreement. Payment plans (12 and 24 months) for the service fee are available upon request.

Prices with Additional Services

Additional services offered are prenatal screening and newborn genetic testing. More than 90% of our customers opt for combined banking of cord blood and of cord tissue. Our premium services combine cord blood + cord tissue banking and newborn genetic screening.