If you have questions about cord blood banking, you’re not alone. Browse the FAQs below to find some answers.
Or feel free to call us at 888.311.1788 to get more information. Our phones are manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And you’ll always get a person, not a robot.
Complete instructions for collection are included in every cord blood collection kit; CryoCyte also has staff available 24/7 to answer any of your healthcare professional’s questions. Most healthcare professionals are very familiar with cord blood collection.
CryoCyte recommends that you inform your healthcare provider of your intentions to collect your child’s cord blood; they will generally note it in your file. It is your responsibility to bring the collection kit with you to the hospital.
Our cord blood collection bag is gravity drip. It takes on average about 7-9 minutes for the blood to drain out of the cord blood into the blood bag.
Yes, the collection bag is sterile so it can be used for C-sections.
The cord blood collection kit includes a sterile collection cup if you choose to store the umbilical cord tissue. At this time we do not currently offer placenta storage, but are looking at adding this service in the near future.
Cryocyte,LLC is a privately held company.
We are not affiliated with any research institutions and we work will all hospitals.
CryoCyte’s parent company, Cryopoint (www.cryopointllc.com), works with several biotech companies, universities and pharmaceutical companies throughout the United States.
Cryocyte only banks cord blood and umbilical cord tissue for private storage.
Cryocyte has been processing cord blood since 2004.
Many cord blood banks have famous doctors on their Board of Directors; but they are not involved with the day-to-day operations.
CryoCyte’s staff are all full-time employees, it’s Medical Director, Laboratory Direct and VP of Regulatory (who all have more than 15 years’ experience in cord blood banking) oversea the daily operations of the lab. All cord blood processing is conducted by highly qualified technical staff.
As of January 2015, there are over 10,000 samples stored privately. We are not a public cord blood bank.
As of January 2015, three cord blood samples have been released for therapy, with all 3 resulting in a successful transplant.
The laboratory is FDA Registered.
The laboratory is CA licensed. We are in the process of becoming NY, MD and NJ licensed.
The will process 24/7. Most samples arrive Mon –Sat, but processing is available 24/7 for samples that arrive in the late evening, on Sunday or Holidays.
The lab does not require maternal blood samples to be drawn for testing; we will use current prenatal blood test results from mom. There is a form in the kit, that mom takes to her physician and they will sign off that mom has been tested for HIV 1&2, RPR (Syphilis), HCV and HbsASg. All these tests are routinely performed on mom throughout her pregnancy.
We use mom’s current blood testing results.
The lab performs an aerobic and anaerobic bacterial and fungal culture to test for contamination.
If mom is HIV positive, we do not store the cord blood. Depending on the type of bacteria, many samples can still be used. Just pre treated with antibiotics prior to use.
Yes, we keep samples that test positive in a separate quarantine tank.
Cord bloods are analyzed for Total Nucleated Cell (TNC) count, CD34+ count (Hematopoietic stem cell count) and 7-AAD for viability.
If the cord blood falls below standard volume and total nucleated cell count, CryoCyte will contact the parents and allow them to make the decision on whether they would like to store their child’s cord blood or have it discarded.
If a sample is not viable to store, all monies are refunded less $150.
Parents will receive a certificate of storage with all the test results. We encourage parents to store the Certificate of Storage with their child’s important medical records.
The enrollment fee is per birth, we do offer repeat client discounts. $200 discount per repeat client.
Yes, the storage fee is included in the processing fee. Please see pricing chart on web site.
Yes, the storage fee is fixed.
Please check the home page for special promotions. We do offer special promotions throughout the year.
Yes, please call CryoCyte for current professional discount options.
Yes, we will deduct $200 off the first year’s total fee.
If the cord blood has been processed and parents decide not to store the sample, all monies are refunded less $150. If the parents decide prior to process, all monies are refunded less $49.
If the sample is ever needed for treatment, there is No fee for retrieval or shipping the sample with in the United States. If being shipped outside the United States the shipping fee will be charged to the parents.
Yes, the cost of shipping the sample from Hospital to the Lab is included.
Yes, shipping is included. Parents call FedEx for a pick up, and FedEx will come to the nurse’s station or reception desk of Labor and Delivery to pick up the cord blood. Most hospitals restrict outside access to labor and delivery rooms.
The laboratory is staffed 24/7, they are also open on weekends and holidays.
Bloods are processed as they arrive at the lab within a few hours. If a sample arrives late due to weather, its processed right then.
The shipping container does not have a temperature logger. All samples are placed in an insulated pouch that protects the cord blood from large fluctuations in temperature. The hematopoietic stem cells in cord blood are extremely hardy and can with stand fluctuations in temperature during shipping.
Most samples are shipped via FedEx Clinical. FedEx ships more blood and tissue samples than anyone in the world on a daily basis. If a different courier is used, it is monitored the entire trip.
Parents will receive a certificate of storage with all the test results.
The storage fee is fixed. Will not increase.
Yes, if the lab was to move (say to a larger space) or if the company was to sell.
Yes, CryoCyte operates its own laboratory and storage facility.
CryoCyte’s FDA registration covers the lab and storage facility.
The samples are stored in Salt Lake City, UT and Brownsburg, IN. No risk of hurricanes or earthquakes.
The samples are stored in nitrogen. There is battery backup and backup generator for the tanks and lab.
The lab is monitored 24/7 by alarms and cameras. Every tank has an alarm installed that monitors it’s temperature 24/7.
Please call Cryocyte, LLC any time to speak with one our knowledgeable staff for questions. We look forward to speaking with you.
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