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Cord Blood Collection, Processing & Storage FAQs

Cord Blood Collection and Shipping

  1. Who will collect the cord blood?
  2. When is the cord blood collected?
  3. What is your collection method?
  4. Does my physician or any hospital staff know how to perform the cord blood collection?
  5. Does the hospital need to provide any materials for collection?
  6. Does collection of cord blood pose any risk to my baby or myself?
  7. Is collection of cord blood different with a cesarean section?
  8. Is the collection amount important?
  9. Will you reject a sample if it is too small?
  10. Will my caregiver charge me any fee for the collection?
  11. How do I arrange for shipping?
  12. Does the cord blood need to be refrigerated?
  13. What if it is in the middle of winter? Will the cord blood be safe during shipment?
  14. How soon should the cord blood arrive at your facility for processing?
  15. Where is the facility located?

Cord Blood Processing and Storage

  1. How is the sample processed and stored?
  2. For how long can cord blood be stored?
  3. Will I receive confirmation that my baby's cord blood has arrived at your facility?
  4. Will you send any documentation or reports about the cord blood?
  5. Are you licensed or accredited?
  6. How do I retrieve my cord blood unit if needed?


Cord Blood Collection and Shipping

  1. Who will collect the cord blood?
    Your delivering physician or nurse midwife will collect the cord blood.

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  2. When is the cord blood collected?
    Cord blood is collected at birth. Your baby’s birth is the only opportunity to collect the cord blood.

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  3. What is your collection method?
    Family Cord Blood Family uses the gravity bag method. This is similar to the methods used by the American Red Cross for blood collection.

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  4. Does my physician or any hospital staff know how to perform the cord blood collection?
    The collection process is simple and can be performed by any doctor or nurse as it is very similar to other types of blood collection. After you enroll with Family Cord Blood Services, we will send your physician or nurse midwife training materials. In addition, we are available on our emergency number, 24/7 to answer any questions you or the delivery staff might have.

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  5. Does the hospital need to provide any materials for collection?
    No. Family Cord Blood Services will send you a collection kit that has everything you and your physician or nurse midwife will need for the collection. Simply bring the collection kit with you to the hospital on your delivery day.

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  6. Does collection of cord blood pose any risk to my baby or myself?
    Not at all. The collection procedure is very safe and poses no risk or discomfort to mother or baby. In fact, the blood is collected after the umbilical cord has already been cut and the baby does not remain in the birthing area during the collection.

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  7. Is collection of cord blood different with a cesarean section?
    The collection process is essentially the same with a cesarean section. Just like a vaginal delivery, the cord blood will be collected after the baby has been delivered and umbilical cord has been cut. We provide a sterile extension set for the physician to use during c-sections.  If your physician prefers a sterile collection bag with a separate anti-coagulant, we can provide that as well.

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  8. Is the collection amount important?
    Yes.  Larger cord blood collections normally contain more stem cells. However, we will not reject a sample because it is too small.

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  9. Will you reject a sample if it is too small?
    We will notify you if the sample does not meet our current standards.  However, we will store your cord blood unit with your consent.

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  10. Will my caregiver charge me any fee for the collection?
    Some healthcare professionals will charge for the cord blood collection. You are responsible for paying that fee. We recommend that you ask your physician if he or she charges for cord blood collection prior to delivery.

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  11. How do I arrange for shipping?
    Family Cord Blood Services has contracted with AirNet, a specialized medical courier. We provide the shipping instructions, contact information and a pre-addressed air bill inside the collection kit. After collection, you make just one call to AirNet at 888-888-8463 and they will come to your hospital room to pick up the collection kit and ship it to our laboratory.  We recommend that you contact AirNet within 2 hours of the collection.  AirNet is available 24/7 and will pick up the sample within 2 hours of your call. AirNet also offers insurance coverage of $1,000.

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  12. Does the cord blood need to be refrigerated?
    No. Do not refrigerate the cord blood. Cord blood must be kept at room temperature from the time of collection to the time of processing.

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  13. What if it is in the middle of winter or the middle of summer? Will the cord blood be safe during shipment?
    Yes. The cord blood will be safe during shipment if reasonable care is exercised and if it is packed according to the directions in each collection kit. Our unique collection kit was designed with thermal stabilizers to prevent the cord blood from going below or over the acceptable temperature limits.

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  14. How soon should the cord blood arrive at your facility for processing?
    The cord blood should normally be processed within 48 hours of collection. That is why we recommend that the cord blood is shipped to Family Cord Blood Services immediately after the baby's birth.

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  15. Where is the facility located?
    Our state-of-the-art processing and storage facility is located in Los Angeles, CA. Family Cord Blood Services is the only cord blood bank located near a major international airport. Our facility is located 9 miles from the Los Angeles International Airport.

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Cord Blood Processing and Storage

  1. How is the sample processed and stored?
    Cord blood is processed using a red blood cell depletion method to remove most of the red blood cells. DMSO, a cryoprotectant, is added to the cord blood prior to freezing. Freezing is accomplished using a "controlled-rate freezer." This freezer gradually freezes the cord blood over a period of approximately one hour. It also provides a record of the entire freezing process.
    The cord blood is then stored in a dual compartment cryocyte bag in liquid nitrogen.  Each cryocyte bag is placed in an additional, slightly larger bag that is sealed using a special heat sealer. This overwrap provides added protection to your cord blood by providing another barrier to cross-contaminants. It will also help contain the cord blood in the unlikely case that any breakage occurs. The bag is held in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen during the quarantine phase. Once all required tests are completed and results found acceptable, the cord blood is transferred to a liquid nitrogen storage tank.

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  2. For how long can cord blood be stored?
    To date, the longest cord blood unit successfully used in a transplant was stored for 15 years. Cryogenic storage of other types of cells indicates that cord blood stem cells, when frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius, could be stored and remain viable indefinitely.

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  3. Will I receive confirmation that my baby's cord blood has arrived at your facility?
    Family Cord Blood Services will contact you to inform you that your baby’s cord blood has arrived safely and to let you know the current status of testing and processing of your baby’s cord blood. AirNet, our medical courier, will also fax, call or email you, at your request, once they have delivered your cord blood.

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  4. Will you send any documentation or reports about the cord blood?
    We will prepare and send you a Preliminary Report within two business days of processing your baby’s cord blood.  Once all the tests are back, usually within two weeks, you will receive your Final Report and the Certificate of Storage. We also provide your physician with the results for their information.

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  5. Are you licensed or accredited?
    Yes. Family Cord Blood Services' processing and cryopreservation facility is registered with the FDA, accredited by AABB (American Association of Blood Banks), certified by CLIA, and licensed by the State of California and the State of New York (the only states with regulations for cord blood banking). We are also licensed by PharmaStem under U.S. Patents 5,004,681, 5,192,553, 6,461,645, 6,569,427 and 6,605,275.

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  6. How do I retrieve my cord blood unit if needed?
    If you need to request your cord blood for transplantation, your physician and our laboratory will make arrangements for release and transportation of the unit to the designated hospital.

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