Processing and Storage


At Cordlife, nothing is more important to us than protecting your child's future. That is why we invested in the latest automated stem cell processing technology to harvest maximum stem cells for improved transplant or treatment outcomes.

Cordlife uses the advanced AXP® II System to process cord blood. AXP-processed cord blood units have nearly the same total nucleated cells (TNCs) and contain more mononuclear cells (MNCs) than conventionally processed units.1

This U.S. FDA-cleared device is capable of recovering more than 97% of viable CD34+ stem cells, higher than other available processing systems.2 A higher recovery of CD34+ stem cells from your baby's cord blood is important, as they are correlated with a higher chance of a successful transplant.3,4

This safe, sterile and automated cord blood processing system also helps to ensure your baby’s cord blood is processed with highly precise, reliable, and state-of-the-art technology, hence eliminating any possible cross-contamination of the cord blood unit.

    References
  1. Harris DT. Collection, processing, and banking of umbilical cord blood stem cells for clinical use in transplantation and regenerative medicine. Laboratory Medicine. 2008;39(3):173-178. doi: 10.1309/64QG394K1M639L8A.
  2. Rubinstein P. Cord blood banking for clinical transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplantation. 2009;44(10):635-642. doi:10.1038/bmt.2009.281.
  3. Yoo KH, Lee SH, Kim HJ, et al. The impact of post-thaw colony-forming units-granulocyte/macrophage on engraftment following unrelated cord blood transplantation in pediatric recipients. Bone Marrow Transplantation. 2007;39(9):515-521. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1705629.
  4. Purtill D, Smith K, Devlin S, et al. Dominant unit CD34+ cell dose predicts engraftment after double-unit cord blood transplantation and is influenced by bank practice. Blood. 2014;124(19):2905-2912. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-03-566216.
Storing your Baby's Cord Blood

Cordlife uses U.S. FDA approved cryogenic storage pouch, with 2 integrally attached segments (20% and 80%) which are in compliance with AABB and FACT-Netcord standards. The dual integrated segments addresses the possibility for future stem cell expansion programmes. This means that when stem cell expansion technology is commercially viable, you can withdraw 80% of the stem cells for immediate use/treatment while continuing to store the 20% balance for future expansion. This storage pouch is made of a special material designed specifically to withstand cryogenic temperature at optimal cryogenic temperature of below -150°C.

The integral segments also provide the safety and assurance that additional product testing is performed on the associated unit thereby eliminating testing and cord blood unit mix ups. This is to allow for additional testing of the sample should it be required in the future, or for viability testing prior to a transplant. This storage pouch is made of a special material designed specifically to withstand cryogenic temperatures.

cryobagImage 1 - Cordlife's FDA approved dual compartmental storage pouch
with integrated segments (before detachment)

Why divide your child's precious stem cells into two cryo bags, and locations and double your risk?

As Singapore is geographically small and free from natural disasters, there is no real need to store your baby's cord blood in different locations. Splitting the cord blood unit into multiple bags increases the risk of contamination. The unnecessary location move may heighten the risks of exposing your baby's cord blood to heat, resulting in cellular damage and possibility of sample mix-up.

The volume of a cord blood unit does not equate to cell count; splitting into multiple bags does not guarantee more stem cells. The success of a stem cell transplant largely depends on the amount of stem cells used in the treatment; splitting and storing of cord blood in multiple bags does not guarantee multiple treatments.

Given that the cell dose is an important predictor of successful transplant outcomes, such 'split CB units' might place their potential recipients at a disadvantage and their application, therefore, unlikely, unless successful stem cell expansion becomes practical in this setting.1

^Reference 1. Rubinstein, P. (2009) Cord blood banking for clinical transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplantation. 44. pp. 635-642

Cord Blood Storage
Cordlife also uses MVE Anti-contamination Vapour-phase Liquid Nitrogen Storage System for long-term stem cell cryopreservation.

Vapour-phase storage is preferred over liquid-phase storage as it eliminates the chance of cross contamination between cord blood units as compared with those stored in liquid nitrogen.

The MVE anti-contamination Vapour-phase Liquid Nitrogen Storage System operates perfectly, even without electrical supply, and is 100% reliable and fail-safe with no chance of robotic malfunction. Unlike other storage systems, our tanks have never been recalled by the U.S. FDA or the manufacturer

Over 99% of private cord blood banks also use vapour-phase freezers.



Reference:
  1. Best practices for Repositories I: Collection, Storage, and Retrieval of Human Biological Materials for Research
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