Que.: How soon does the collected specimen have to reach the labs?
Ans.: The specimen needs to arrive at our lab to begin processing within 36 to 48 hours of its collection. It should not be refrigerated. The parents should make arrangements for couriering of the blood to the lab. For the name of a courier company that will undertake the task of delivering the sample to the labs, please get in touch with the nearest office in your area for the details.

Que.: How do I notify Lab that my baby's cord blood is on its way to their labs?
Ans.: It is necessary to contact us directly after the birth of your baby. Simply tell us the following particulars to find out if the sample has reached our labs.

i) The mother's name
ii) Home telephone number
iii) Client ID and
iv) The baby's date and time of birth.
You will receive written confirmation of lab results from our associates Lab within 2-3 weeks of processing, testing and storage.

Que.: What are the tests carried out on the collected cord blood?
Ans.: Following tests will be performed on every specimen:

Maternal blood is tested for:
a) Syphlis
b) Hepatitis B&C
c) ALT
d) Malaria
e) Leptospirosis
f) HTLV 1&2
g) HIV Antigen and Antibody
h) CMV.

The collected cord blood is tested for:
a) Rh grouping/ typing
b) Blood cultures
c) CD 34 counts

This testing regimen determines the infectious disease status and allows the collected Stem Cell to potentially be used for "autologous (self) use". In the event that any of the infectious disease screening tests is positive, confirmatory tests will be automatically performed.

The cost for the initial screening tests are included in Lab's fee, the costs for confirmatory testing, if required, will be billed separately.

Each cord blood sample is also tested to confirm the absence of microbial contamination.

HLA typing is not routinely performed at the time of processing but only when required in the future.

Que.: When and where are these tests carried out?
A: These tests are carried out in our labs after the arrival of the samples from your hospital or nursing home.

Que.: Is the mother informed in case any of the tests performed on her blood sample are positive?
Ans.: Yes, the mother will be informed and suitable action will be taken.

Que.: What is the technique used to process cord blood and separate the cells for preservation?
Ans.: We use a density gradient separation process. This technique depletes the red blood cells and plasma, isolating the mononuclear white blood cell fraction, which contains the Stem Cells.

Que.: Where will the collected cord Stem Cell be preserved?
Ans.: After the testing is performed, the Stem Cells are treated with DMSO the cryoprotectant and stored in special cryovials with autologous plasma and sterile media at the Lab in Keelakotaiyur in Tamil Nadu.

Que.: Who controls the use of the preserved cord blood Stem Cell?
Ans.: Until the child is of legal age, the parents, as the child's guardians, have control over the Stem Cells. No Stem Cells will be released by our associates Lab without the parents consent initially and later the child's consent once they reach legal age.

Que.: Is there a cost to retrieve my newborn's cord blood Stem Cell if needed in the future?
A: No. Since you own the preserved specimen, there is no charge for retrieval. There is, however, a shipping and handling fee, as the specimen would require transport in a special container to the transplant location in order to maintain cryogenic temperatures.

When you require the preserved Stem Cells, all you have to do is contact us. When the appropriate documentation is in place, your baby's Stem Cells will be given to you in the shortest time span possible.

Que.: Is the collection and preservation of cord blood Stem Cell expensive?
Ans.: Yes, but seen in comparison to the benefits, the cost incurred is insignificant. Cord blood Stem Cell preservation simply adds an element of protection against some of the most devastating possibilities that could occur in the future.

At current prices we have two types of pricing plans (applicable to Indians)

STANDARD STORAGE PLAN:
Enrolment Fee - RS. 5000/- onwards
Testing, Processing, Harvesting & Courier Fee (One Time) - Rs. 32,600/- onwards
Annual Storage Fee - Rs. 3,500/-  onwards
Total amount to be paid at the time of enrollment - Rs. 41,100/- onwards

ONE TIME STORAGE PLAN:
(Includes Enrollment, Processing and Storage Fees for 21 years) - Rs. 75,500/- onwards

Que.: What happens after the cord blood is collected?
Ans.: The cord blood is packaged with the mother's blood in the special shipping materials provided in the Kit. The parents then call a courier to arrange for pickup, delivery and payment of the cord blood to laboratory within 36 hours of collection, where it is processed, tested, separated and the Stem Cells are cryogenically stored.

List of diseases which stem cells can help cure

I. Already in use

i. Acute Leukemia
a. Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia (ALL)
b. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
c. Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia
d. Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia

ii. Chronic Leukemia
a. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
b. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
c. Juvenile Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (JCML)
d. Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML)

iii. Myelodysplastic Syndromes
a. Refractory Anemia (RA)
b. Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts (RARS)
c. Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts (RAEB)
d. Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts in Transformation (RAEB-T)
e. Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)

iv. Stem Cell Disorders
a. Aplastic Anemia (Severe)
b. Fanconi Anemia
c. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
d. Pure Red Cell Aplasia

v. Myeloproliferative Disorders
a. Acute Myelofibrosis
b. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia (myelofibrosis)
c. Polycythemia Vera
d. Essential Thrombocythemia

vi. Lymphoproliferative Disorders
a. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
b. Hodgkin's Disease

vii. Phagocyte Disorders
a. Chediak-Higashi Syndrome
b. Chronic Granulomatous Disease
c. Neutrophil Actin Deficiency
d. Reticular Dysgenesis

viii. Other Inherited Disorders
a. Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
b. Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia
c. Ganzmann Thrombasthenia
d. Osteopetrosis
e. Adrenoleukodystrophy
f. B-Thalassemia

ix. Inherited Platelet Abnormalities
a. Amegakaryocytosis / Congenital Thrombocytopenia

x. Inherited Metabolic Disorders
a. Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS)
b. Hurler's Syndrome (MPS-IH)
c. Scheie Syndrome (MPS-IS)
d. Hunter's Syndrome (MPS-II)
e. Sanfilippo Syndrome (MPS-III)
f. Morquio Syndrome (MPS-IV)
g. Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome (MPS-VI)
h. Sly Syndrome, Beta-Glucuronidase Deficiency (MPS-VII)
i. Adrenoleukodystrophy
j. Mucolipidosis II (I-cell Disease)
k. Krabbe Disease
l. Gaucher's Disease
m. Niemann-Pick Disease
n. Wolman Disease
o. Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

List of diseases which stem cells can help cure

xi. Histiocytic Disorders
a. Familial Erythrophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
b. Histiocytosis-X
c. Hemophagocytosis

xii. Inherited Erythrocyte Abnormalities
a. Beta Thalassemia Major
b. Sickle Cell Disease

xiii. Plasma Cell Disorders
a. Multiple Myeloma
b. Plasma Cell Leukemia
c. Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
d. Amyloidosis

xiv. Inherited Immune System Disorders
a. Ataxia-Telangiectasia
b. Kostmann Syndrome
c. Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
d. DiGeorge Syndrome
e. Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome
f. Omenn's Syndrome
g. Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
h. SCID with Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency
i. Absence of T & B Cells SCID
j. Absence of T Cells, Normal B Cell SCID
k. Common Variable Immunodeficiency
l. Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
m. X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disorder

xv. Other Malignancies
a. Ewing Sarcoma
b. Neuroblastoma
c. Renal Cell Carcinoma
d. Retinoblastoma

II. Trials under way
a.Cardiac Disease
b. Diabetes
c. Multiple Sclerosis
d. Muscular Dystrophy
e. Parkinson’s Disease
f. Spinal Cord Injury
g. Stroke

III. Future Stem Cell Applications
a.Alzheimer's Disease
b. Lupus
c. Rheumatoid Arthritis

This list represents major categories of diseases treated with stem cells and is not exhaustive. For instance, there are over twenty (20) specific types of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and numerous types of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, to name just two among many others.

References include:
National Marrow Donor Program. www.marrow.org. Accessed 11-18-2003. Cord Blood and Our Tomorrow, Larry Lasky, MD. AABB News. March/April 2001. American Association of Blood Banks. Tissue Engineering with Bone Marrow and Cord Blood Grows Heart Parts. American Heart Association. Top 10 Research Advances for 2001. Impact of Bone Marrow Transplantation on Type 1 diabetes. World Journal of surgery. Vol. 25, No.4. April 2001. Dystrophin Expression in the mdx Mouse Restored by Stem Cell Transplantation. Nature. Vol. 401. September 23, 1999.

For Detailed Dossier on Cord Blood Transplant, please write to us at  mktg@mediescapes.com