Family Bank: CellSave Arabia

About

CellSave Arabia, the first private stem cell laboratory in the GCC region, was officially launched on September 11, 2006, by the UAE Minister of Health. CellSave Arabia is part of CSG.BIO Group, one of the largest stem cell providers in the world with over 750,000 stored samples listed in their database. It is a leading provider of advanced stem cell solutions. Committed to revolutionizing regenerative medicine, CellSave Arabia leverages the potential of the umbilical cord and placental stem cells to offer transformative treatments for various medical conditions.

Labs and Locations

CellSave Arabia is headquartered in the heart of Dubai in Dubai Healthcare City, United Arab Emirates.

Recently, CellSave has opened their second laboratory in the UAE, located in Abu Dhabi in partnership with Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre (ADSCC), called CellSave by ADSCC. CellSave Arabia owns and operates the region’s largest and most technologically advanced private laboratory and cryogenic preservation facility that is dedicated and designed exclusively to handle the stem cells found in the umbilical cord blood, cord tissue, placenta, amnion placental tissue and cord vessels.

CellSave Arabia is the only laboratory in the region to be accredited by AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies) for both cord blood and somatic cells (cord tissue and placenta) services. The facility is also accredited and registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), the UAE Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The laboratory processes stem cell collections 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Business Experience

CellSave Arabia’s laboratory was launched in 2006. They have helped 350 families use their cord blood stem cells for established and experimental medical treatments, more than any other family stem cell bank in the region. CellSave Arabia offers complimentary information sessions with their Clinical Educators 7 days a week to respond to parent inquiries and help parents make informed decisions about newborn stem cell storage. Enrolled clients have access to a 24-hour emergency toll free line.

Collection Kit

CellSave Arabia’s 4-in-1 collection kit is a unique kit that provides the necessary materials for the collection of cord blood, cord tissue, cord vessel, placental tissue and amnion placental tissue. It is both temperature-protected and temperature-monitored, and is electronically tracked during the transportation to ensure the integrity of the samples as well as to safely and easily collect the maximum amount of stem cells following birth. The cord blood collection bag provided in the kit contains CPD, an FDA approved anti-coagulant which is heparin-free, and is packed in individual aluminum sterile packaging in order to be used for both C-Sections as well as normal births. Each bag has two needles for increased safety and quality control.

Transportation container

CellSave Arabia’s collection kit includes thermal foam insulation and gel packs that control temperature during transportation to the laboratory. The collections kits have been design and validated to shield the samples from extreme temperatures. Samples remain at room temperature and are transported directly to the Dubai laboratory for processing. The kits are temperature-protected and temperature-monitored, and are electronically tracked during the transportation to ensure the integrity of the samples.

Shipping Info

Following the collection, the labor and delivery staff will return the collection kit to a designated family member who will call CellSave Arabia to request pick-up of the kit from the hospital room. CellSave Arabia arranges for the transportation from the hospital room to the Dubai laboratory with our own trained and dedicated Collection Specialists (within the UAE). For deliveries outside the UAE, CellSave Arabia pre-arranges a courier service that is approved and certified for medical samples, to pick-up the kit from the parent’s hospital room.

The collection kit is pre-labeled and includes a pre-paid AWB. An electronic tracking program ensures the kit is tracked from the time it leaves the mother’s bedside to its arrival at the laboratory. CellSave’s base price includes all shipping charges. The courier is available on weekends and holidays and maintains a secure chain-of-custody

CellSave Arabia extends its services globally, collecting stem cell samples from seven key locations around the world: the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United States, and Canada. This wide-reaching network ensures that clients from various regions can easily access the highest standards of stem cell banking, providing them with the assurance that their samples are securely processed and stored, no matter where they are located.

Processing Method

CellSave Arabia uses a state-of-the-art automated laboratory processing system to process cord blood and ensure maximum stem cell recovery. This method retrieves the greatest number of stem cells from the cord blood sample, resulting in up to a 99% recovery rate, one of the highest in the industry. The Sepax technology has processed more units subsequently used in transplantation than any other technology. It is functionally closed and single-use, which provides the greatest chance that the cord blood will be sterile and not get contaminated during processing. 

At the heart of our innovation is our exclusive Proprietary Master Stem Cell Bank system. We begin by extracting pure mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) from perinatal tissues. These MSCs are then cultivated to create a Master Stem Cell Bank specifically for families and their children. This system is designed to produce practically unlimited doses of the newborn's own MSCs, offering a lifetime supply (1,037 treatments) of therapeutic doses for the whole family.

Components Stored

CellSave Arabia’s cord blood processing results in a red-cell reduced stem cell product, the industry gold standard. The "buffy coat" fraction of the blood containing white cells and stem cells is stored. Red blood cells and plasma are stored separately for future testing.

• CryoAdvanced Package stores the cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue, which is stored in 10 separate units including integrally attached segments.
• CryoUltimate Package stores the cord blood, cord tissue, placental tissue, amnion placental tissue and cord vessels, which is stored in 12 units including integrally attached segments.
• CryoInfinite Package is the full option that provides the storage of cord blood, cord tissue, placental tissue, amnion placental tissue and cord vessel, in addition to the infinite supply of ready-to-be-used Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) through the umbilical cord tissue expansion for regenerative medicine therapies. 

Parents are provided with the sample test results, including maternal infectious disease test results, TNC count, MNC count, and CD34+/CD45+ count, as well as a Certificate of Storage.

Storage Method

CellSave Arabia stores cord blood units in a cryobag with two compartments (80% of the unit is in one section and 20% of the unit is in the second section). CellSave Arabia also stores three integrally attached segments with each bag that can be used for testing or future expansion technologies. CellSave Arabia has an add-on service that provides parents a 5-chamber storage bag, which enables parents to have 5 future treatments with cord blood. A family may utilize one portion of the unit and continue to cryopreserve the others. Prior to storage, each cryobag is placed in a second overwrap bag, which is sealed as an extra precaution against possible cross contamination. Each wrapped cord blood bag is placed in an aluminum outer storage canister for enhanced mechanical protection and effective long-term protection. Each canister has unique bar-coded identification labels.

CellSave Arabia stores the stem cells in biovaults, called dewars, specially designed for long-term cryostorage. The cord blood units are suspended above a pool of liquid nitrogen that creates a vapor-phase cryogenic environment without immersing them in liquid, which can enable cross-contamination. The dewars are capable of operating without electricity and there is 24/7 recording of storage condition parameters. The cord blood and tissue cells are cryogenically stored in separate dewars, in different storage locations, as an added security measure and as recognition that they may have separate medical indications for use.

Licensing & Accreditation

CellSave Arabia maintains standards for cellular therapy services through:

• AABB Accreditation (for both cord blood and somatic cells services)
• UAE MOH Certification
• Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Clinical Operating Permit for Stem Cell Processing and Stem Cell Storage
• Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) License
• US FDA Registration
• US Maryland Tissue Permit

Clinical Experience

** Therapy numbers in the UAE and gulf countries include both cord blood and birth tissues. (Elsewhere in the world these numbers are cord blood only.)

CellSave Arabia has helped 350 families use their cord blood stem cells for therapy. Adding therapies from birth tissues, CellSave Arabia has released over 665 stored samples. Together with other laboratories in the CSG BIO Group, they have released a total of 785 therapies globally that utilizing cell therapies from cord blood and birth tissues. For the full list of transplant releases, please contact +971-800-2355.

Therapies include:

• Cerebral Palsy (autologous)
• Medulloblastoma (autologous)
• Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (autologous)
• Aplastic Anemia
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
• Congenital immunodeficiency (brother)
• Blackfan-Diamond Anemia
• Thalassemia Major (includes UAE case)
• Sickle Cell Anemia

Insurance

Parents will receive a full refund of all fees if the cord blood is released for therapy within the first 3 years. Parents will also receive a Transplant Assistance cash-back service worth 15,000 AED if the cord blood unit is released for any therapy within the first 3 years. In addition, CellSave Arabia holds a Certificate of Product Liability from AON Insurance worldwide.

Prices

When saving your child’s stem cells with CellSave Arabia there are no hidden costs, like annual fees or extra charges for the standard testing of the samples. CellSave Arabia stands for high quality and service at a fair price. Their premium stem cell banking services all feature packages with a comprehensive list of standard benefits along with personalized care every step of the way, to give complete peace of mind. Each of the packages below can be paid in monthly interest-free installments. Please visit CellSave Arabia’s website for more information: https://cellsave.com/costs/

• CryoAdvanced Package - 21,500 AED beginning package stores the cord blood, cord tissue, and placental tissue.
• CryoUltimate Package - 26,500 AED this package includes additional sources of stem cells from the cord vessel and amnion placental tissue.
• CryoInfinite Package - 37,500 AED this package allows expecting parents to unlock the full potential of stem cells from all sources and grow a master bank containing a near-infinite supply of ready-to-be-used Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) from umbilical cord tissue expansion

The total fees include the administration, collection kit, courier/transport, processing, testing (CD34+/CD45+ stem cell count, TNC count, MNC count, Viability, and full sterility testing), and storage during the initial storage period of 30 years. It also includes the Maternal Blood Sample testing by the PCR method. Should the stem cells be needed for therapy, the standard fee includes transport to any transplant facility in the world. In addition, it includes same day critical time processing (UAE only), 24-hour sample collection, transplant assistance and a quality service guarantee.

Additional Services

All CellSave Arabia packages include cord blood and cord tissue storage.

Cord tissue banking allows families to collect and preserve a segment of the umbilical cord, which is a rich source of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs), a type of stem cell that assists in building bone, cartilage and connective tissue as well as mediating the body’s inflammatory response to damaged or injured cells. Starting in 2017, CellSave Arabia was the first laboratory in the region to offer the next generation of stem cell banking services with Placental Tissue storage which is included in the CryoAdvanced package. Today, the CryoUltimate package includes Cord Vessel storage and Amnion Placental tissue storage. The cord blood and tissue cells are cryogenically stored in separate dewars, in different storage locations, as an added security measure and as recognition that they may have separate medical indications for use.

Stem Cell Storage for Private and Government Hospitals

CellSave Arabia also provides processing and storage of stem cells from Bone Marrow, Peripheral Blood, and Adipose (Fat) Tissue, catering to both private and government hospitals. Both bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells are crucial for treating blood disorders and cancers. Adipose-derived stem cells, known for their regenerative potential, are used in tissue engineering, wound healing, and cosmetic procedures. By offering these services, CellSave Arabia supports hospitals with advanced therapeutic options and enhances patient care outcomes.

Infinite Supply of Ready-to-Use Mesenchymal Stem Cells

In 2023, CellSave Arabia became the first stem cell bank to proudly introduce the CryoInfinite package, which includes the storage of 4 vials of ready-to-use mesenchymal stromal/stem cells derived from cord tissue and cord vessels. These mesenchymal stem cells are meticulously cultured under controlled laboratory conditions, where they are expanded and characterized to ensure their viability, potency, and purity. Complementing this offering is CellSave Arabia’s Proprietary Master Stem Cell Bank system, ensuring the highest quality and efficacy in stem cell preservation. This extraordinary service enables customers to utilize these stem cells for a wide range of regenerative medicine purposes, including skin rejuvenation, facial enhancement, treatment of ovarian and erectile dysfunction, body performance optimization, orthopedics, and many other therapies.

5-chamber Storage Cord Blood Bag

CellSave Arabia offers an add-on service that provides expecting parents with a 5-chamber cord blood storage bag, a cutting-edge technology that allows the separation of collected cord blood into five distinct chambers. This innovation is crucial for parents because it enables the potential use of cord blood in multiple future treatments, rather than limiting it to a single use. Each chamber can be accessed individually, preserving the integrity of the remaining cord blood for subsequent therapies. This flexibility is particularly valuable in situations where multiple treatments may be needed over time, whether for the same child or other family members, making it a vital consideration for parents looking to maximize the long-term benefits of cord blood banking.