Cryology RTS is expected to offer high quality and competitively priced reproductive tissue services that will include short and longer-term cryogenic storage; inter-facility transportation coordination; and special quarantined cryogenic storage for infectious disease positive specimens. Following the successful launch of the new service in the United States, Cryo-Cell expects to introduce the Cryology RTS service throughout the company’s expansive global affiliate network.

The test involves taking a couple of droplets of blood from both mother’s blood draw, and from baby’s umbilical cord blood, for testing purposes. CBAI currently collects maternal blood samples with the umbilical cord blood at the time of birth, so this process will require almost no additional time or materials cost. A single finger prick of blood will be collected and tested from other family members also wishing to have these testing services.

The DNA is then analyzed for predisposition to 25 diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity and seven different types of cancer, including breast, lung, skin and prostate.

“DNA testing and HLA typing services are a natural progression from storing cord blood stem cells. The parents will now know proclivity to certain diseases for the child,” said Matthew Schissler, co-founder and CEO. “Knowing what serious medical conditions or diseases a person is predisposed to will allow for that person to take steps to prevent the disease and to make informed choices about lifestyle and the need for medical screenings.”

[source]

BioCells is headquartered in Argentina, with affiliates under development in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Panama and Puerto Rico. The company is the second largest stem cell storage company in Argentina, and is considered to be profitable, with annual revenues of $1.2 million in 2009 according to a press release regarding the acquisition. The company also has 12 locations throughout Argentina, plus a recent expansion into Uruguay and Paraguay.

On April 19, 2010, Cord Blood America announced that a letter of intent had been signed by both companies for Cord Blood America to purchase controlling interest in BioCells.

“We are very confident that this acquisition will close by the end of August,” said Matthew Schissler, Cord Blood America co-founder and CEO. “Having controlling interest in BioCells will significantly boost our bottom line by one to one and a half million dollars annually. It’s a historic day when CBAI can add a profitable entity to its family of companies. It is our goal to build Cord Blood America into the world’s premier stem cell storage company, with current transactions being completed in Germany, as a foundation for all of Europe, and in China.”

The acquisition is expected to be closed no later than August 31, 2010.

[Source]

Their services include the processing and banking of umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and adipose tissue derived stem cells. They will also offer genetic counseling, bone marrow match testing and a registry that will be available to the public and medical community.

Here is the contact info for Celebration Stem Cell Centre.

Today, Insception and the Toronto Cord Blood Program banks over 32 000 samples of cord blood. With the largest number of banked cord blood units in Canada, Insception is easily one of the most experienced and established cord blood programs.

Successful transplants are an accurate measure of a cord blood bank’s quality, and Insception demonstrates excellence in its field as the company has released several cord blood units for transplant. Over the years, 10 children have received cord blood transplants to treat a myriad of diseases, including Retinoblastoma, Leukemia and Fanconi Anemia. 7 units have also been released for use in cellular therapy clinical trials for Type 1 diabetes and Cerebral Palsy.

The cord blood program also exhibits an unprecedented focus on the customer experience. With the Wings of Hope: Medical Need Program, Insception offers support to families that present a high likelihood of requiring a stem cell transplant. As part of the program, Insception will waive the initial banking fee, giving low-income families otherwise unobtainable access to the valuable ‘insurance policy’ that cord blood banking provides.

Insception also offers one of the only payment plans available in the Biosciences industry. With the Peace of Mind Plan, expecting parents can make the banking process far more affordable than they ever thought possible. They are guaranteed storage for 18 years, without having to pay any upfront fees. With monthly payments of $75, Insception makes cord blood banking an attainable prospect for families with varying budgetary restrictions.

The company continues to expand, as Insception welcomes cord blood units from each and every hospital in Canada. The company has recently launched a new office in Alberta and hopes to expand even further in the future.

AssureImmune
Web: www.AssureImmune.com
PHONE: 1-888-3immune (888-346-6863)
OFFICE: Boca Raton, FL

CordBancUSA
Web: www.CordBancUSA.com
PHONE: 1-888-273-7770
OFFICE: Monterey, CA

Cord Blood America
Web: www.cordblood-america.com
PHONE: 888-326-7235 (888-3-CORCELL)
OFFICE: Las Vegas, NV and Philadelphia, PA

Cord Blood Registry
Web: www.cordblood.com
PHONE: 888-CORDBLOOD
OFFICE: San Bruno, CA
STORAGE: Tucson, AZ
ACCREDITATION: AABB, CA, MD, NJ, NY

Cryobanks International
Web: www.cryo-intl.com
PHONE: 800-869-8608 or 407-834-8333
OFFICE: Altamonte Springs, FL; near Orlando

Cryo-Cell International
web: www.cryo-cell.com
PHONE: 800-STOR-CELL
OFFICE: Oldsmar FL, near Tampa

DomaniCell
Web: www.domanicell.com
PHONE: 201-883-5308
OFFICE: Hackensack, NJ

Elie Katz Umbilical Cord Blood Program
Web: www.communitybloodservices.org/cb_ekucbp.php
PHONE: 1-866-SAVCORD
OFFICE: Allendale, NJ

FamilyCord
Web: www.familycord.com
PHONE: 800-490-CORD (2673)
OFFICE: Los Angeles, CA

Genesis Bank
Web: www.thegenesisbank.com
PHONE: 800-804-6703
OFFICE: General BioTechnology, Indianapolis, IN

HemaStem Therapeutics
web: www.hemastem.com
PHONE: 800-203-7349; or Email info@hemastem.com
OFFICE: Main office located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

LifebankUSA
Web: www.lifebankusa.com
PHONE: 877-LIFEBANK
OFFICE: Cedar Knolls, NJ

LifeLine Cryogenics
Web: www.lifelinecryogenics.com
PHONE: 1-866-967-CRYO
OFFICE: Stamford, CT

LifeSource Cryobank LLC
Web: www.LifeSourceCryobank.com
PHONE: 866-400-7333 or 985-867-8902
OFFICE: Covington, LA

MAZE Labs
Web: www.MAZEcordblood.com
PHONE: 914-683-0000
OFFICE: Westchester, NY
STORAGE: Storage facility in Purchase, NY.

NeoCells
Web: www.neocells.com
PHONE: 888-50-CELLS
OFFICE: Palm Harbor, FL
STORAGE: Reproductive Genetics Institute, Chicago, IL

New England Cord Blood Bank
Web: www.cordbloodbank.com
PHONE: 888-700-CORD
OFFICE: Boston, MA

PacifiCord
Web: www.PacifiCord.com
PHONE: 1-888-379-CORD (2673)
OFFICE: Irvine, CA
STORAGE: Irvine, CA

Regenerative Medicine Institute (RMI)
Web: www.rmilabs.com
PHONE: 877-844-7379
OFFICE: SIRM offices in Las Vegas, Nevada

Safetycord, Inc.
Web: www.safetycord.com
PHONE: +1 305 432 2673
OFFICE: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Securacell
Web: www.securacell.com
PHONE: 866-836-CELL
OFFICE: Canton, OH

StemCyte
Web: www.StemCyteFamily.com
PHONE: 866-389-4659
OFFICE: StemCyte, Covina, CA

Stork Medical
Web: www.stork.md
PHONE: 866-65-STORK
OFFICE: Columbus, GA

Utah Cord Bank
Web: www.utahcordbank.com
PHONE: 877-UCB-STEM (1-877-822-7836)
OFFICE: Sandy, Utah

ViaCord
web: www.viacord.com
PHONE: 866-668-4895
OFFICE: Cambridge, MA

Xytex Cord Blood Bank
Web: www.xytexcordblood.com
PHONE: 800-277-3210 or Email tissues@xytex.com
OFFICE: Augusta, GA

There are around thirty private cord blood banks across the country, where cord blood is stored for autologous use at an cost that generally exceeds $1500 plus an annual fee of at least $100. Cord Blood America has set its prices at $2075 plus $125 annually.

“Private banking insures that you have stem cells that are a perfect match,” Cord Blood America CEO Matthew Schissler said. “You don’t have to go looking for the match.”

Jennifer Lahl, founder and national director at The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network said umbilical cord blood can be stored for years and used to treat diseases and conditions.

“This is a brand-new field, and certainly it’s a wonderful, precious resource,” she said. “It’s a win-win. People on all sides of the political and religious divide can come together and say this is good for everybody.”

She said only about 10 percent of umbilical cord blood is saved.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies was signed at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and the collaboration has resulted into StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd.

This cord blood bank will be located in Ahmedabad and will have the patented technique of processing and storage of StemCyte Inc., announced the officials of the StemCyte on Thursday.

Controversy has risen in the recent years as to whether donors should go for public cord blood banks or the private ones. There are several factors which contribute to these sentiments. Some physicians do not recommend donors choose private banks because many of these banks are not standardized.  The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) points the fact that private cord blood banks are beneficial only for those parents whose relative needs a current transplant, but benefit no one else. Private storage is recommended for a family that has a medical history of metabolic disorder. Alternatively the AAP suggests that parents donate to public cord blood banks where cord blood can be made available to many people for treating various diseases. One of the primary reasons for such recommendations is that around ten thousand people are diagnosed with diseases each year and only public cord blood banks provide cord blood globally to any patient who need be treated with cell transplant. Private cord blood banks will provide cord blood only to donors (for their use or their families) who store cord blood for a fee.

Another major reason for physicians not encouraging private cord blood banks is because of the marketing and advertising strategies used by some of these banks. The private banks target every expectant couple and convince them that they are potentially providing a life saving opportunity to their families. This sort of emotional reasoning has worked in many parents to go in for private banks which stores cord blood exclusively for the donor’s use. Even doctors who are convinced by the stem- cell advances encourage parents (who can afford to pay that money) to opt for private banks so that cord blood can be used to save their child’s future or another family member. But there is no correct numbers to quote about the risk of a child needing stem- cell in the future. The APC and ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) studies reveal that numbers would fall anywhere between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 200000, whereas some the private banks have advertised numbers as low as 1 in 2700.

As private cord blood banking is expensive, parents should research which one is best suited for their family’s needs. Some things they should check before going with private cord blood banks are whether the bank is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks, the number of cord blood units it stores, and the number of successful transplants it has conducted with the stored samples and the way it is stored (whether in single unit or small units).