Cord Blood Information Kit

Cord blood is the blood remaining in the placenta and umbilical cord, typically discarded after a baby is delivered. This blood is an extremely rich source of the body’s master cells — the building blocks of our blood and immune system, the “stem cells”.

If your child, or possibly someone in your family develops a life-threatening illness or debilitating disease, a transplant from cord-blood-derived cells / stem cells could save their life or greatly reduce the symptoms and effects of their illness.

Unlike the use of embryo-derived cells, cord blood collection and storage are not controversial or ethically charged in any way, because these cells are generally discarded, and do not compromise potential human life.

Cord blood-derived stem cells have been successfully used on thousands of patients to treat numerous conditions and diseases and there is exciting new research on many additional conditions that it could be used for in the near future.

CReATe Cord Blood Bank has been successfully banking stem cells since 2005. The centre’s cutting-edge technology offers the most advanced stem cell services available in the North American market.

In 2006 CReATe launched Peristem™ service which offers a second type of stem cell storage for potential treatment of a new range of diseases that has shown to enhance current cord blood treatment. CReATe’s technological superiority together with its highly trained and experienced team make CReATe your cord blood bank of choice.

• Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after your baby is born and is usually discarded as medical waste.
• Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells that are the building blocks of our blood and immune systems and can be used in place of bone marrow for transplantation.
• The stem cells from the cord blood are a perfect match for your baby and there is a possibility that other members of your immediate family could also benefit from them.

While your pregnancy is progressing and you are due in a few months or weeks, cord blood banking is an important decision that you and your family needs to take. In pregnancy, you have three options:

1. Have your baby's cord blood collected stored with a family cord blood bank
2. Donate your baby’s cord blood to a public cord blood bank
3. Decide not to bank and your baby’s cord blood will be discarded

If you want to save the cord blood, you must arrange for it ahead of time. It is not a decision you can make at the last minute. Please note collecting the cord blood does not cause pain. It is a noble and simple procedure that safeguards your child’s future.

Currently, about 33% of all paediatric stem cell transplants are derived from cord blood units vs. bone marrow. In fact, cord blood stem cells have been used in approximately 35,000 transplants worldwide to treat more than 80 different diseases including:

• Cancers
• Genetic disorders
• Blood disorders
• Immune deficiencies

Cord blood stem cells hold great therapeutic promise and the number of uses for cord blood has been increasing tremendously in the past few years, with many exciting new developments in the field. Research suggests that in the future these stem cells could be useful in the treatment of many other diseases including autism, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury.

Research in the area of regenerative medicine has begun to establish other uses of stem cells, including the ability to help the body or particular organs repair themselves. Currently the patient’s own stem cells are required to enable these therapies, meaning, children with banked cord blood could be afforded more medical options later in life.

As easy as 1-2-3

1. Register

Register online before your due date (6 – 8 weeks prior is preferred, but last minute or emergency registrations are also accepted).

2. Collection kit

We’ll send you a collection kit to bring with you to the hospital when you deliver. Instruction for your health care provider will be inside the kit.

3. Ship the completed kit

After delivery, just call one of our preferred medical couriers to safely ship your samples back to CReATe’s laboratory.

Our revolutionary program — Peristem™

Available exclusively at CReATe Cord Blood Bank. This exclusive program not only enhances current cord blood treatment options, but offers treatment opportunities for a new range of diseases. CReATe is the world’s first and only family stem cell bank offering parents the option to bank both types of stem cells from the umbilical cord.

State of the art laboratories

The FIRST of its kind in Canada to offer Cord Blood and Peristem™ processing in a “clean room” environment.

CReATe’s facility features

• AABB Accredited and Health Canada Registered Cord Blood Bank
• A cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) quality sterile clean room processing environment.
• Round the clock monitoring of all critical equipment and cell processing environment.
• Located in a secure medical building in the heart of downtown Toronto and with easy access to all major hospitals.
• Highly skilled management and technical staff.
• On-site power and nitrogen back-up systems.

Quality Management

CReATe is committed to the highest standards of quality, privacy, ethics and safety. CReATe has been awarded accreditation by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and is Health Canada registered cord blood bank.

The outstanding team behind CReATe

Led by Dr. Clifford Librach – world renowned patient advocate, educator and researcher, our team of highly trained and experienced medical and laboratory professionals continually push the bar forward.

Affordable Peace of Mind Cord Blood & Peristem™ Fees

The processing fee is a one-time fee and storage rates are guaranteed not to change for 18 years.

For information on our financing and special offers, such as our Gift Registry and our Friend Referral Bonus Program visit www.createcordbank.com.

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Important Pricing Details: For full details on shipping fees, refunds, discounts for siblings and multiples please visit www.createcordbank.com.

Hospitals and/or health care providers may charge an additional fee for collection. All applicable taxes are extra.