The blood specimens taken from the umbilical cord must reach the laboratory within 48 hours. They are taken in by the reception (check-in) and subsequently transported to the clean room for immediate processing.

The laboratory is directed by a physician specializing in transfusion and transplant medicine. The physician and his/her team are experts in the discipline of preparing umbilical cord blood and bone marrow.

The following steps are performed prior to the specimens being safely stored in the nitrate tank:

• Separation of the stem cells from erythrocytes and blood plasma through special centrifugal methods.
  
  

• Determination of the cell count (CD34+-stem cells).
  
  

• Analysis of the vitality and reproduction capabilities of the isolated stem cells via CFU test and flow through cytometrics.
  
  

• Determination of the microbiological quality (absence of bacteria, fungi and viruses, in particular HIV (Aids), CMV (Cytomegalia), Hepatitis B and C) via polymerases chain reaction.
  
  

• Optionally available upon request: HLA type determination. The HLA determination is not performed as a routine matter, given that it is only relevant, if the stem cells are also to be made available to other individuals, such as close relatives. If a sibling becomes ill, for instance, the specimens have to be defrosted and the HLA type determination has to be performed post storage. If you are considering making the stem cells available also to other members of your family, you should have the HLA type determination performed in any event. Please discuss your options with us!