What is Stem Cell Banking?

Stem cell banking is the collection, processing, and storing of stem cells for future medical use. Normally, stem cells are extracted from the umbilical cord after birth or from dental pulp found in milk teeth and stored by a public or private stem cell bank. If needed they’re released and used in regenerative therapies for many diseases.

Most stem cells are cryogenically stored in stem cell banks at ultra-low temperatures for an agreed number of years. Stem cells can help different types of cells to renew, including the cells found in blood, guts, muscle, and skin. Should your child fall ill in the future, stored stem cells could be used to help repair or replace damaged tissue.

Stem cells may also be used by blood relatives of the child. This could offer protection for the family against many diseases, many of them life-limiting or life-threatening. Examples include anaemia, leukaemia, and certain types of cancers.

How is stem cell banking done?

Cord blood and tissue can be extracted from the umbilical cord and/or placenta after birth or taken from early embryos or amniotic fluid. It’s a non-invasive and painless process for mother and baby. A professional phlebotomist will retrieve the sample and use a medical collection kit to ensure it’s safe.

This is then transported to a laboratory for processing and banking. Most stem cells are cryogenically stored (essentially frozen) in the best conditions so they can be used in the future if needed. Stem cells can also be taken from dental pulp in milk (baby) teeth after they’ve fallen out naturally. It’s also possible to take stem cells from adult teeth.

With Stem Protect there are six simple steps for how stem cell storage and banking work:

1. Request a free information pack – call 0800 211 8389 or contact us online.
2. Complete and return your storage agreement.
3. Finalise the service by receiving your collection kit and details of your phlebotomist.
4. Call your phlebotomist on the big day and take your collection kit to the hospital.
5. After your baby is delivered safely your phlebotomist will collect the stem cell samples from the umbilical cord and place them in the collection kit.
6. A medically approved courier will collect your kit from the hospital or your home and deliver it to our laboratory for processing and storage.

What are stem cell banks?

Stem cell banks are the facilities where stem cells are stored safely and securely. These are laboratories where stem cells from thousands of babies and adults are processed and cryogenically stored. There are public and private stem cell banks where you can donate stem cells or pay for their secure storage.

At public stem cell banks, stem cells become available to help treat the general public. With private stem cell banks, you have exclusive use of the stem cells. They’re available for immediate use and ensure a perfect genetic match to your child (and a partial match to some family members).

Both public and private stem cell banks are regulated by strict rules in many countries to manage methods of extraction, storage, and use. Stem cell treatments are being developed by researchers and medics around the world and it’s likely that in the future they’ll be offered as treatment for an even larger range of diseases.

Use a reliable and leading stem cell bank

Trusting your baby’s stem cells to a stem cell bank gives you the ultimate protection against future medical issues, not only for your baby as they grow into an adult but also for others in your family. Stem cells can be held in stem cell storage facilities in separate samples so that they can be used multiple times.

Arrange a free consultation about the stem cell banking services we provide at Stem Protect for families in the UK. Call 0800 211 8389 or contact us online today to find out more.