Cord Blood Program - Community Blood Services

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Cord Blood

Ellie Katz Umbilical Cord Blood Program

Stem cells are primarily found in bone marrow, where they produce healthy blood cells. Stem cells are also found in circulating blood, and in even higher concentration in umbilical cords. These cells, after extensive processing, can be frozen for future use by the baby or a matched sibling, particularly if there is a family history of serious diseases. The cells also can be donated to help others

Persons undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which destroy the patient�s bone marrow, can have their stem cells harvested for later transfusion.

Staffed by highly trained laboratory professionals, Community Blood Services is the only blood bank in New Jersey licensed by the state for the collection and storage of stem cells.

Experience and Excellence

Stem cell samples are tested and processed in a state-of-the-art laboratory following rigorous quality assurance procedures and under the guidance of an experienced cryobiologist. �

Our highly trained laboratory personnel use a sophisticated multi-coding system to assure the integrity of each sample during all phases of processing, storage and delivery.

During the past two years CBS has collected nearly 1600 units of umbilical cord blood, 90 percent of �these units are listed in the Bone Marrow Worldwide International Registry. CBC has provided stem cells for transplantation to numerous medical facilities throughout the United States, as well as Portugal, England, and Canada.

Insuring a Healthy Future

Harvesting cord blood is safe for both you and your baby. The procedure takes less than five minutes. Open 24 hours a day, Community Blood Services will dispatch a technician or special courier to transport the cord blood to the CBS for processing.

One of two techniques can be used to harvest your baby�s cord blood:

Technique #1. (In-utero) After the baby is born and the umbilical cord is detached, a needle is inserted into the cord�s vein and the placenta blood is drawn. Your physician, midwife or nurse collects the cord blood in a small, sterile pouch that contains an anticoagulant to prevent clotting. The pouch is sealed in a specially designed container and delivered to Community Blood Services for processing and testing.

This technique is preferred because it typically produces a higher quantity of stem cells.

Technique #2. (Ex-utero) When the umbilical cord and placenta are detached from the uterus, the medical staff places them into a hanging collection system. The umbilical cord is extended through the opening, and the umbilical cord blood is collected in the same way described in technique #1.

Advanced Technology for Maximum Results

Community Blood Services� state-of the-art processing technology guarantees maximum recovery and maximum quality of the cord blood harvested.

Testing and processing of the cord blood is performed no later than 48 hours after the harvesting.

Red blood cells are removed from the cord blood. The remaining white cells are concentrated, and frozen. The frozen cells are then stored in liquid nitrogen and placed in a storage facility within the blood center.

The storage facility is equipped with a back-up electrical power generator and battery back-up system. Temperatures are supervised round-the-clock by blood center technicians and monitored by an independent company.

For more information on Community Blood Services please call (201) 444-3900 �

Download The Gift of Life brochure

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