Page Content Cord Blood Banking ProcessThe process of cord blood banking is straightforward. It involves the collection of cord blood after the baby is born, followed by its processing and storage in the laboratory.
The mother's ObGyn and/or trained delivery staff will handle the cord blood collection. When the collected unit arrives at the SCBB laboratory, SCBB staff will take over the process. Mothers can focus fully on delivering and welcoming their newborn baby throughout the process.
The process of collecting your baby’s cord blood is safe, painless and poses no risk to the mother and baby. It does not interfere with your birth experience or your birth plan. When the mother goes into labour in the Delivery Room, her blood is collected primarily for screening of infectious diseases. After the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, and cord blood is collected from the umbilical vein before the placenta is delivered. This step takes a few minutes, and such collection can only take place at the time of delivery.
In the Delivery Room
After the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut.
While waiting for the placenta to be delivered, the residual umbilical cord blood is collected from the umbilical vein. This step takes a few minutes.
Cord blood collection is completed when the placenta is expelled. Processing of Collected Cord Blood Processing of collected cord blood involves the following steps:
In the Processing Laboratory
Each bag of collected cord blood received at the Processing Laboratory is assessed for blood volume and number of Total Nucleated Cells (TNC). Typically, cord blood is processed within 48 hours of collection.
Cord blood is processed to maximise the recovery of haematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells. This is achieved through centrifugation and separation of blood components using automated blood separator.
At the end of processing, the final product is an approximately 25ml bag of nucleated cell concentration, known as Cord Blood Unit (CBU).
Blood Component Separator
The Blood Component Seperator is an automated system designed to facilitate the separation of whole, centrifuged blood into its various blood components. It is versatile, capable of working with different types of single-use blood bags and processing kits. Importantly, it allows for the programming of cord blood banking protocols into the equipment, ensuring efficient and standardised processing.
After the cord blood has been processed, concentrated white blood cells are transferred to a freezing bag with cryo-protectant. The following steps will follow through:
Cryopreservation of a CBU
The final processed cord blood is frozen in a control rate freezer. Gradual freezing maintains the quality of stem cells and prevents damage, thus maintaining cell viability and cell potency.
Once the CBU has reached the optimum temperature of below -150°C, it is transferred into a cryopreservation tank for long term storage.
Temperature in the storage tank is maintained at less than -150°C and is continuously monitored via an alarm system. This ensures that the CBUs in SCBB are closely monitored and comply with local regulations and international quality standards.
The CBU remains in the cryopreservation tank until it is requested for clinical use.
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