Smart Cells preparation and collection

From the point of making your deposit of £195, you are given a unique customer identification number. Our up to date systems ensure accurate recording of information.

Your collection kit can be despatched on the day you order and is tracked to the point of delivery.

The Smart Cells collection kit contains:

• Contract pack with key information and advice
• First maternal blood test kit
• Umbilical cord blood collection bag, equipment and what to do on the day
• Advanced thermally controlled packaging and instructions for successful transportation

Collection of your baby's stem cells takes place in the minutes after birth, when the baby has been safely separated from the umbilical cord. Ideally collection occurs while the placenta is in situ but can also be done after delivery of the placenta.

Your doctor or midwife or nurse will insert the needle from the collection kit into the umbilical cord and the cord blood (which would normally be thrown away) will flow naturally into the bag.

The entire procedure takes less than five minutes and poses no risk to mother or baby. A minimum sample of 60ml is needed for processing. The average sample size we receive is over 90ml.

As part of the collection process we also need to receive the first maternal blood test result.

One of our service packages includes arranging for a trained nurse or phlebotomist to carry out the collection procedure. To preserve the viability of the sample, the collection bag contains an anti-coagulant (to stop the cord blood clotting) and the packaging is designed to keep the blood's temperature within optimum range.

Once your sample has been taken and packaged, we then arrange its collection with our couriers and monitor the transit of your sample to its safe arrival at our Laboratory.

DO NOT put the sample in a fridge or freezer, it must be kept at room temperature.

With your permission we can arrange for a text to be sent to confirm safe arrival of your sample.