Cord tissue banking is the process of collecting and storing sections of your baby’s umbilical cord after birth; freezing the precious cells within for potential future use in the future.
Cord tissue is known to be a rich source of mesenchymal cells (MSCs). They are known to transform into a variety of cell types in the human body, including bone, cartilage, muscle and fat cells. The number of MSCs in your body slowly decreases with age, so cord tissue banking offers an effective way to preserve these valuable cells.
Currently there are over 300 research projects ongoing, using MSCs to tackle conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism and diabetes.
As with our process of storing cord blood, we take stringent measures to ensure that if ever needed, your child receives a fit for purpose sample. Immediately after a cord tissue sample is collected, it is transported via our 24/7 courier service to our UK laboratory and processed, before carrying out a viability test.
Once the tissue sample has been cut into multiple portions, each portion is cryopreserved separately in our dedicated storage facility. We store an additional portion for quality control testing which is thawed and tested to ensure viable cells can be cultured. Storing multiple sections and confirming that every sample contains viable cells, ensures the widest range of options for future medical applications.
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How does it work?
The science behind cord tissue banking is complicated, but storing your baby’s cord tissue cells really couldn’t be simpler. Here’s how it works;
We send you your collection kit well before the birth date, which contains everything you need to collect the sample (make sure you take it with you on the big day!).
After birth, your consultant (or a phlebotomist provided by us) will take a tissue sample and place it back in the collection kit.
Our dedicated courier then collects the kit from your place of birth or home, delivering it to our laboratory in Nottingham.
Once arrived we:
Process the sample by sectioning the tissue sample into multiple portions
Your baby’s sample is then cryogenically frozen in the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen, and stored in our facilities for decades to come
The sample is checked and confirmed as healthy and viable for future use
Should you ever need to use your sample, we’ll take care of everything and can ship it anywhere in the world, free of charge
Future Health Quality Testing
In our own laboratory, Future Health scientists have conducted extensive experiments to assure you the greatest quality sample, always.
All cord tissue samples stored at the Future Health lab contain MSCs which can crucially be isolated and expanded into the desired number of cells required for application
Once expanded these cells can transform into and differentiate, with potential to replicate bone, fat and cartilage cells
Why choose Future Health?
Once you’ve decided that Cord Blood Banking is for you, you then need to decide which biobank you’re going to trust with your baby’s sample. Here’s why we think you should choose us;
One of the world's most accredited cell banks
Free release and shipment of your sample worldwide
Samples released for treatment in the USA, Europe and the Middle East