How is cord blood collected?
Immediately after delivery of your baby, following the cutting of the cord, your delivery team (usually led by your delivering physician or midwife) will collect the UCB that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord using the collection kit. After sterile preparation of a four-inch segment of the umbilical cord the collection needle is inserted into the vein of this prepared area. A general yield between 70 and 100 mls (approximately 5 to 7 tablespoons) is collected by gravity flow, with the entire process taking approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Following the UCB collection, the bag is secured, labelled and transported back to CryoGENESIS for processing. There is no pain involved with the UCB collection procedure, and the process is not harmful to mother or newborn. For Adults and older children ReGENESIS UK will collect stem cell- rich bone marrow from the pelvis or from your peripheral blood. The procedure can be carried out under local anaesthetic and does not require hospitalisation
At the time of delivery, the expectant parents take a collection kit provided by the cord blood bank with them to the hospital. The hospital staff will perform the required steps to prepare for the collection of your babys cord blood (and collection of the placenta, if applicable). A blood sample is also taken from the mother at this time for testing including infectious disease testing. Once your baby is born and the umbilical cord has been cut, your health care provider will perform the cord blood collection. There are two methods of cord blood collection: gravity or syringe. However, the gravity bag method is the industry standard. The gravity method is preferred because it is a completely closed system, which means less risk of contamination because processing is done without exposure to the environment. The gravity method involves elevating the placenta so that gravity forces cord blood down through the umbilical cord and into the collection bag. For placenta-derived stem cells, t
After you enroll, you will receive a collection kit with everything your medical staff needs to collect your babys cord blood. Youll keep your kit with your pre-packed hospital luggage so it will be ready when the big day arrives. After your baby is born, and after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, your obstetrician or midwife will collect the cord blood. The blood will flow by gravity into the bag until it stops. The actual collection typically takes three to five minutes. After the cord blood has been collected, the blood bag your obstetrician or midwife seals the bag and places it back inside the collection box. Have a family member or friend call the toll free number on the side of the collection box to let us know the cord blood has been collected. ViaCord will send a private medical courier to pick up the blood at the hospital and transfer for processing and storage.
