For Baby's

Cryo-Cord is a Cryo-Save service whereby stem cells from your baby’s umbilical cord blood are stored by us. This is how Cryo-Cord works:

• Prior to the delivery of your child, you receive a removal set from us with which the midwife (or doctor / obstetrician) can remove the umbilical cord blood.
  
  
• We ensure that a certified international courier collects the umbilical cord blood and brings it to our laboratory in Mechelen.
  
  
• In the laboratory, the blood is tested using the latest DNA techniques for the presence of infectious agents and microbiological contamination. The stem cells are then isolated and their quantity and quality are determined. If the blood supplied does not meet the minimum requirements, we give parents the option of dispensing with the freezing process, so that no additional costs should be incurred. The success rate is, however, slightly more than 85%.
  
  
• Vital stem cells are labelled, split and frozen. A proportion of them remains in Mechelen, while the rest is stored at a second cryogenic stem cell storage site in the Netherlands.
  
  
• Using unique barcodes, we can swiftly locate your child’s stem cells and make them available to the doctor treating it.
  
  
• We keep the stem cells for 20 years. Your child can then decide whether to extend stem cell storage.
  
  

Cryo-Save guarantees that processing and stem cell storage take place in accordance with the highest scientific and industrial standards. The entire service is set out in a standard operating procedure (SOP).

Stem cells are too valuable to throw away

Would you prefer not to have your baby’s stem cells stored by Cryo-Save for later? If so, you can also donate the stem cells to a public stem cell bank. This does not cost you anything and also helps others. Bear in mind, though, that you would never be able to request the stem cells yourself later. Ask your doctor or obstetrician for more information on this.