When it comes to cord blood banking, the different types of processing methods are not always discussed. As a result, great confusion can often arise from the term ‘processing’.
As a parent who is considering banking their baby’s stem cells, it’s important to know what exactly cord blood processing is and why the processing method of cord blood is so important. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about cord blood processing.
What is cord blood processing?
The purpose of cord blood processing is to separate a high volume of stem cells from the rest of the cord blood in order to produce a sample that can be safely and successfully used in the future. What many people don’t know is that there are a number of processing methods available.
The method of cord blood processing chosen can have a large impact on the quality of the collection, which can subsequently have an impact on the outcome if the cord blood sample is used in treatment.
Cord blood stem cells are probably the most powerful source of stem cells we will ever have. However, the number of stem cells that is collected from the umbilical cord can be limited by the amount of blood available at the time of collection.
That’s why it is vital that the chosen processing method retains as many of your baby’s precious stem cells as possible.
Why the processing method of cord blood matters
Advancements in technology and science could mean that your child may be part of the first generation to live beyond 100 years old. In recent years, it has been estimated that 1 in 3 people will need regenerative therapy for many conditions, such as arthritis, cancer, type 1 diabetes, and more.
Who knows how many stem cell treatments your child may need during their lifetime? The number of stem cells your child has stored is crucial and may determine how many treatments can be done.
The general motto is “the more cells stored, the better”. The number of cells collected could be the difference between treating a child on one occasion, or having a sufficient number of cells to treat an adult in multiple treatments throughout their life.
Many cord blood banks only have one method available for processing cord blood stem cells. At Cells4Life, we provide parents with two options:
- AXP
- TotiCyte
AutoXpress (AXP)
Cells4Life uses the AutoXpress (AXP) automated processing system, a technology selected by leading public and private cord blood banks worldwide for its automated, closed processing approach. By reducing manual handling during processing, the system helps minimise the risk of contamination while improving the consistency and reliability of the processed sample.
For many years, the AXP cord blood processing method has been the chosen processing technology for a number of leading cord blood banking organisations worldwide. In the UK, it has been adopted by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) services, providing many benefits such as the efficiency of blood components supply and stem cells services.
This processing technology is also the most popular system in North America and has been used in several stem cell therapies at a global level.
AXP powers Cells4Life’s Cells service, which is second only to CellsPlus in terms of viable cell recovery. The use of AXP reflects standards adopted by cord blood banks internationally to support high-quality sample preservation.
TotiCyte
“A revolution in cord blood processing”
In 2017, Cells4Life transformed the field of cord blood processing with the launch of a unique cord blood processing technology, TotiCyte. Changing the way that stem cells are preserved from umbilical cord blood, TotiCyte delivers 3 times more stem cells than the industry standard system, AXP.
Unique to Cells4Life, TotiCyte has been developed to maximise cell count whilst also improving blood type compatibility. This is particularly beneficial if the stem cells are going to be used to treat a sibling or another family member. With TotiCyte, more cell types are also preserved which are often lost in other processing technologies.
TotiCyte powers Cells4Life’s CellPlus service, which can effectively process samples of cord blood as small as 10ml. This is great news for parents who want to do both delayed or optimal cord clamping and cord blood banking.
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Find out more about cord blood banking by downloading an Info Pack now.
