Further Information
Frequently asked questions
To help you make an informed decision we have a set of frequently asked questions about umbilical cord blood stem cell storage.
If you have a specific question, please click here to send it to our Doctor.
- Who should perform the collection? What if my doctor or midwife refuses to do it?
- Are there any ethical implications arising from the collection and use of stem cells from umbilical cord blood?
- What happens if I have a Caesarean or a home birth?
- Is the procedure safe? Is there any chance it could harm mother or baby?
- Can drugs taken during labour affect the cord blood?
- What are the maternal blood tests and why do you do them?
- What is the difference between private and public stem cell storage?
- If I stored cord blood stem cells for one child, should I store others?
- How do you ensure security and client confidentiality?
- Why is the cord blood unit only stored for 25 years? What happens then?
- Is Smart Cells an international organisation?
- Do you have a clear criteria for successful storage?
- Do you ever get failed units?
- I have been told the service is expensive, how much does it cost?
- Do you offer Gift Vouchers?
- What illnesses can stem cells treat?
- How long does it take to process the cord blood?
- Are there any ethical implications with the collection and use of cord blood stem cells?
Who should perform the collection? What if my doctor or midwife refuses to do it?
The collection must be peformed by a trained healthcare professional.
The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) states that :
All maternity units that collect cord blood will need to act under a Human Tissue Authority (HTA) licence that will ensure:
- Staff have training in collecting cord blood, raising standards and making sure that best possible quality of sample is taken.
- Procedures which will help prevent any medical attention being drawn away from mother or child during collection.
- A system is in place to make sure that the cord blood cells are traceable from collection to their use in treatments.
Smart Cells' are able to provide your maternity unit with the necessary licence by way of a third party agreement between the unit and ourselves. Please contact our customer service department for further information.
If your healthcare professional refuses to make the collection, we have a service package which makes alternative arrangements using qualified healthcare professionals through our Smart Cells Phlebotomy service.
Are there any ethical implications arising from the collection and use of stem cells from umbilical cord ?
No. There is however some confusion between embryonic stem cells and umbilical stem cells, but the sources are entirely different.
The umbilical cord blood and cord tissue is normally discarded at birth and collection of blood from it poses no ethical or moral dilemma.
What happens if I have a Caesarean or a home birth?
Cord blood can still be easily collected.
If you are planning a home birth, you should go through the collection process with your midwife at your next visit.
If you are planning or have a Caesarean, the collection can take place after the delivery of the placenta, as it would with a natural birth.
Is the procedure safe? Is there any chance it could harm mother or baby?
Umbilical cord collection is completely safe.
It takes place once the baby has been safely delivered, so there is absolutely no risk to mother or baby. The process takes just a few minutes and will not distract your doctor or midwife from caring for mother or baby.
The collection will only take place when your healthcare professional is satisfied with the baby's and Mothers progress.
Can drugs taken during labour affect the cord blood?
No. Drugs commonly used during labour, such as Syntometrine or Syntocinon, will not affect the viability of the stem cells.
However some drugs such as immunosuppresives can cross the placenta but are, according to some literature but at much lower levels than maternal levels.
Any potential impact is one that must be addressed to your treating physcician if you are at all concerned or need clarification
What are the maternal blood tests and why do you do them?
The Human Tissue Authority requires a mandatory set of tests to be performed on maternal blood before we can store your baby's umbilical cord stem cells.
Smart Cells tests maternal blood using a real-time PCR methodology, for the detection of HIV type 1, HIV type 2, Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in a single multiplex assay. The Human Tissue Authority approve the use of this technology.
Smart Cells in leading the way in the UK in this state of the art technology ensuring that we are the most technological and innovative company in the field.
Maternal blood can be collected 30 days prior to the birth or up to 7 days after your baby is born. The cost of all testing is included in our service fee.
What is the difference between private and public stem cell storage?
Smart Cells stores 100% of your baby's stem cells which are for your use only. They are stored for up to 25 years.
Some NHS hospitals are providing new parents with the option to donate their umbilical cord blood to public banks where the stem cells can be used by anyone. If you do not wish to store privately, Smart Cells fully support this initiative.
Public stem cell banks cannot guarantee that your donated sample will be available if your child or a sibling should need it.
Some companies are offering a public donation of some of your baby's stem cells. Again there is no guarantee that the donated part of your sample will be available to your child or a sibling.
The small amount of stem cells remaining, depending on the samples key markers, will probably only be of use when stem cells can be reliably amplified or when regnerative medicine is understood more definatively. Both these technologies are in development.
If I stored cord blood stem cells for one child, should I store others?
Yes, firstly you don't know if the tissue type of the next child will match the previous child.
Secondly, you can't predict which child may someday need a transplant.
Thirdly, combining similar samples can give a greater volume of cells for transplant. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has shown that one year survival from related cord blood transplants was approximately double that of unrelated transplants.
How do you ensure security and client confidentiality?
Our laboratory is a highly secure facility with restricted access. In addition it is highly governed by the HTA in order to ensure its ongoing accreditation.
Each client is given a unique ID code on the day the collection kit is ordered and this is kept for the life of the sample. We cross-check the ID code and the sample at every stage of the process.
Customer care and client confidentiality are our top priorities. We are bound by the Data Protection Act and we will never pass your details on to anyone without your prior consent.
Why is the cord blood unit only stored for 25 years? What happens then?
Some experts believe your baby's stem cells will be viable indefinitely. Some companies only offer 20 years of storage as part of their service, it is worth clarifying the number of years included in your service package. Smart Cells offer packages that enable you to pay up front for 25 years, or pay annually for 25 years storage.
There is currently no evidence to suggest that the future health of your stem cells will deteriorate even after 25 years.
At the end of your contract, you will be given the option of extending the storage, or discarding it.
Is Smart Cells an international organisation?
Yes.
Smart Cells International has been safely storing stem cells for parents since 2001 and now has offices in The Far East, The Middle East, and across Europe.
Smart Cells International is privately owned, based in West London and was the first established umbilical cord blood bank in the UK.
Do you have a clear criteria for successful storage?
Smart Cells sets a minimum cell count for storing cord blood stem cells, based on current transplant technology. If your baby's cord blood unit falls below this level, then we will notify you.
We provide you with information on the cell counts and viability of the cells stored, and background information in order for you to make your own decision whether to continue to store the unit or not.
If we receive less than 20ml of cord blood, we will not be able to process the unit, and you will be notified accordingly.
Do you ever get failed units?
Yes we do, in a small percentage of cases.
The failure is normally due to insufficient blood being collected, that is why we provide a service package incorporating a trained healthcare professional to take the blood.
I have been told the service is expensive, how much does it cost?
We have a range of service packages and payment options which start from £995 including your deposit of £195.
We also offer 12 and 24 month payment plans .
Please contact your local office for more information, 0845 604 5523
Do you offer Gift Vouchers?
Yes we can provide gift vouchers so that your extended family and friends can contribute to storing baby's umbilical cord stem cells.
The gift vouchers are from £50.
What illnesses can stem cells treat?
Cord Blood stem cells are mainly used in the treatment of blood disorders.
They can be used to replace damaged or abnormal blood cells as part of the treatment of some malignant blood disorders such a leukaemia. This is an alternative to bone marrow transplantation.
The potential benefits of cord blood stem cell transplantation are that the cells are immediately available when needed, they are a perfect match for the person who stored them, they can be transplanted into siblings and parents, and they carry a reduced risk of transplant rejection and infection.
Ongoing scientific research has shown the potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells in the possible treatment of a wide variety of medical conditions which may benefit from tissue repair or regeneration, such as nerve or muscle damage.
The recent work on trachea transplantation using bone marrow stem cells to create new tissue illustrates the power of this technology.
How long does it take to process the stem cells?
The laboratory will process the cord blood and tissue as soon as they receive it. The blood has additional microbiological tests and counts measured. This means the results will normally take 7-10 days after the baby is born, to be fully completed and communicated to you.
Are there any ethical implications with the collection and use of cord blood stem cells?
No. There is however some confusion between embryonic stem cells and umbilical stem cells, but the sources are entirely different.
The umbilical cord blood is normally discarded at birth and collection of blood from it poses no ethical or moral dilemma.
