Serena Medical

Информация

Business Experience

Vita 34 has more than 25 years of experience in the field of stem cell banking and is also sharing their experience with other laboratories worldwide.

Stem cells from both subsidiaries and distribution partners are processed and stored centrally in Germany. The respective Vita 34 partner in each country is responsible for all steps and procedures until the samples are received by Vita 34. This includes marketing and distribution, the training of the hospital staff, all the communication with the customer as well as the transport of the cord blood/cord tissue samples to Vita 34.

In case of a medical application, Vita 34 undertakes all necessary prearrangements – from additional tests in the laboratory via transportation of the cord blood to the place of transplantation up to the preparation on the ground. Thus, treatment while observing the highest standards of quality is possible in any hospital.

Collection Kit

In order to ensure top quality, Vita 34 developed many tools itself in accordance with top standards: The Vita 34 collection kit for umbilical cord blood has a special design for better survival of blood cells during transportation. The collection bag is sterile both inside and outside so that it can be used in an operating room during C-section. The bag is validated and accepted by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (Federal Authority for Vaccines and Biomedicines in Germany).

Transportation Container

The cord blood (and the cord tissue) are transported in a thermally insulated shipping box designed by Vita 34: The transportation box is validated and tested to maintain room temperature under test conditions. In Germany transport temperature of 10-28° C is mandatory. Therefore, the box contains large gel packs to stabilize the temperature and a data logger to monitor shipping conditions. Vita 34 pioneered the use of temperature loggers in cord blood transport.

Shipping Info

For all shipping arrangements, Vita 34 or the distribution partner are responsible. After the birth of the baby, the clinic informs the courier via our 24 hours hotline. The courier transports the blood (and tissue) safely packed to the Vita 34 laboratory, where further steps are taken on the way to stem cell storage deposit.

Processing Method

Vita 34 offers umbilical cord blood storage using various processing methods: Vita 34 is authorized to professionally manufacture medicinal products in the form of whole blood as well as isolated stem cells using separation techniques.

Components Stored

In Germany all cord blood samples are stored in the form of whole blood. We also store five test samples for eventual further quality tests before application. Cord tissue is stored in the form of tissue samples.

Parents are provided with a storage certificate detailing their unique identity code, name and date of birth of the mother as well as date and time of birth of the child. The customers are also provided with all test results from cord blood and maternal blood (e.g. virus antibodies, cell counts, bacterial contamination, blood type).

Storage Method

The storage tanks used by Vita 34 are completely independent from electric power supply. They are thermo tanks made of stainless steel. They contain a reservoir of -196° C cold liquid nitrogen on the bottom. The samples are stored in the vapor nitrogen layer above. The advantage of this storage method in contrast to immersion in liquid nitrogen is that any cross-contamination between cord blood units is impossible.

The final storage is in a proprietary cryo-bag. Together with the cryo-bag, five test samples are stored. This allows taking only a small quantity and examining it before an application event. The main preparation remains untouched. For perfect protection, the cryo-bag and the vials are encased in a very stable metal freezing cassette.

Licensing & Accreditation

Vita 34 has all required state authorizations and certifications. Moreover, Vita 34 is the only private umbilical cord blood bank in Europe that has permission from the German Federal Institute for Immunizations and Biomedical Pharmaceuticals (Paul Ehrlich Institute) for the production and distribution of autologous and allogenic preparations from cord blood. All preparations are produced in line with good manufacturing practice (GMP) and are of certified quality.

Clinical Experience

FamiCord Group provided 266 units of umbilical cord blood for therapeutic use as of March 2026. Vita 34 also collects and provides cord blood donations for public usage.

Community Service

Vita 34 Sibling Initiative:  Since 2002, we store the umbilical cord blood of younger siblings free of charge for five years in case a seriously ill child needs a stem cell donation. A younger brother or sister can be an ideal donor. Statistically, the chances of tissue characteristics matching within the family are at least 25 percent. Studies show that the risk of rejection in allogeneic transplants between siblings is significantly lower than with unrelated donors. Cord blood stored with Vita 34 has been used for siblings several times already.

Prices

The current prices can be viewed at any time on the Vita 34 website. Customers receive an invoice only after successful storage.

Additional Services

Vita 34 offers the following additional services in Germany:

• Vita 34 Family Option: Our family option is a unique, free additional service in Germany for storing umbilical cord blood. We check (HLA typing) whether the stem cells are also suitable for siblings or close family members (allogeneic use), if needed. Genetic characteristics often match between siblings and family members. This means that umbilical cord blood is not only available to the child, but potentially also to family members for transplantation.
• Vita 34 Donation Option: With the donation option, parents consent to the anonymized tissue characteristics being transferred to a public stem cell registry. Before entry the sample it is carefully checked whether it is suitable for donation. In the stem cell registry, doctors worldwide can search for suitable donors. If they find a match, they can submit a request to Vita 34. Then Vita 34 will inform the parents of the potential stem cell donor. Ultimately, the parents decide whether or not their child's stem cell deposit will be released for an allogeneic transplant.
• Family support: If the umbilical cord blood is applied within the scope of a cancer therapy in the first 18 years of the child’s life, Vita 34 will grant the parents a one-time payment of €7,000. The money can be used irrespective of the therapy costs covered by your health insurance.