Learn about cord blood banking in Toronto with Progenics Cord Blood Cryobank!
If you are expecting a baby, and have heard the term cord blood banking, but aren’t sure what it is or what the process entails, check out this interview I did with Toronto cord blood bank Progenics Cord Blood Cryobank. Thank you to the team at Progenics for answering all of my questions! Be sure to check out below how you can receive a special discount!
1. For those of us unfamiliar with this service, can you tell us what cord blood banking is?
After a baby is delivered, the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta can be, processed, and cryopreserved. In the past, this blood was typically discarded as medical waste, however, we now know that it is rich in several types of stem cells. These cells have the potential to treat over 80 diseases!
2. Who might benefit from this type of service? Why would someone need to bank cord blood?
Consider cord blood banking a type of insurance for a family. A baby’s cord blood is 100% a match for them and has a high chance to closely match a sibling as well, which can be beneficial when 2 cord blood units are needed for stem cell therapy. It can be particularly challenging to find a cord blood unit for a transplant from the public registry that is a match if your child has a diverse ethnic background.
3. Is cord blood banking available in all Toronto hospitals?
Progenics Cord Blood Cryobank offers complimentary courier services to collect your baby’s cord blood unit from any hospital in the GTA, and subsidized shipping for any other location in Canada.
4. How much does this service typically cost?
Initial fees for cord blood banking are around $1100, with a yearly storage fee of $145. Progenics offers cost saving packages for 20 year or 30 year plans, and also has flexible payment plans available.
5. How long does cord blood get stored for?
Theoretically, cord blood can be preserved indefinitely, but Progenics prefers to stick to the science- there is currently no scientific evidence that stem cells derived from cord blood units remain viable, potent, and suitable for administration after a lifetime of storage. Progenics performs annual stability studies to confirm the quality of our oldest banked cord blood units and is the
only Canadian cord blood bank which posts annual quality reports publicly on our
website!
6. What happens to my cord blood if you or another company goes out of
business?
Progenics has been in business for over 18 years and is a well-established cord blood bank with international accreditations. However, in this extremely unlikely event, Progenics has an agreement with another cord blood bank who would
take over the accounts and cryopreservation of your stem cells.
7. Can you explain the process of getting your cord blood banked?
After registering either online or in person, our client care team will reach out to you to confirm all details and answer any questions you may have. Your collection kit is then delivered to you by courier. You will bring this kit with you to the birth, and your healthcare provider will use the supplies provided to collect the cord blood. Then you simply need to call the number provided to you to have our medical courier come pick up the kit from your bedside and Progenics will
take care of the rest! After your cord blood has been processed, you will receive a personalized Certificate of Quality.
8. Can you tell us a little about your company? What makes you stand out from other service providers?
Progenics is registered with both Health Canada and the FDA and is voluntarily accredited with AABB and FACT- the highest international standard for cellular therapy. Progenics has a 100% successful cord blood transplant rate which can be attributed to our high-quality standards. Due to our unique Modified Double Stem Cell Extraction method, Progenics has an average recovery rate of 98% of total nucleated cells which include the stem cells (this is way above the industry average) and consistently processes samples within the first 24 hours of collection, 365 days a year. This means that should you need to use the stem
cells for therapeutic use, our quality standards consistently yield a high number of viable stem cells to ensure the maximum potential for a successful transplant. Progenics uses top of the line technology and has state of the art facilities which are monitored 24/7 for security and environmental storage conditions, with an emergency response team available 24/7 to respond to any potential alarm immediately.
9. If someone is interested in banking their cord blood, what are some things they should be looking out for in a company they choose to work with?
It is important that the cord blood bank you choose is FACT accredited, and can guarantee that your cord blood is processed quickly, to ensure the highest yield of viable stem cells. Ask for quality reports and the average of total nucleated cells that the company extracts in processing. Of course at the end of the day, be sure to choose the cord blood cryobank which leaves you and your partner feeling confident in your choice.
Mention Claire Binks Photography when you register for cord blood banking at Progenics for an exclusive discount!
If you found this post helpful, check out some of my other posts and as always, if you are interested in a newborn session, lets chat!
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