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Stem Cell collection and storage

30

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 10:08

Hi
Im looking into Stem Cell collection and storage.
I talked to my doctor and she offered me 4 companies and she said she recommends them in the following order (but she didn’t say the reasons for her preference)
1. Biovault
2. Cells4Life
3. Smart Cells
4. Cyro-Save

I have spoken to the agent from Smart Cells, and he was very professional and helpful. I am looking into Biovault and Cells4Life as well.
I would appreciate any feedback regarding these companies, and most importantly what should my decision be based on, as the cost is very similar.
Thanks

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345

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 15 July 2013 - 19:36

Just wanted to update...the collection and storage with smart cells went fine; they arrived to collect soon after my husband called and we got an email a few days later with the breakdown of the sample (% viability, TNCs etc). They came round to drop off the final paperwork when I was ready (certificate of storage and receipt) and I handed over the final cheques.

2

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 30 June 2013 - 17:47

We stored with Cells4Life earlier this year and we were very pleased with the whole process. We found them the best as they gave us a choice of storing either a premium whole blood service or the standard Gold (volume reduction). We actually went with the premium service with them because of all the additional stem cells. We felt it was a big benefit to store all the different stem cells especially with so many developments happening and possibilities for the future treatments. We just thought it was a no-brainer and wanted to do it right after deciding to bank the cord blood in the first place. The normal gold package still stores more cells than anyone else we enquired with here. A lot of our friends in the UK stored with them and were not familiar with the other companies so that made our minds up for us.

345

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 26 June 2013 - 13:52

has anyone given a thought to tooth cell storage? i am thinking of doing that for my baby. looked into this (v briefly though), and if i wasnt expecting a third, I probably would have done this for one or both of my other kids. There was an article in the Daily Mail (UK) a while back about a dentist who used stem cells from his daughter's milk teeth for some kind of treatment later on...try and google it.

345

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 26 June 2013 - 13:36

Thank you KH for your replay.I will have a proper look into this option. Another question: will you save stem cells for only one of your child or the coming ones in the future if you are planing to have more kids? i wont be having any more, so this thought didnt cross my mind : )

1381

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 26 June 2013 - 12:16

has anyone given a thought to tooth cell storage? i am thinking of doing that for my baby.

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 June 2013 - 19:38

Thank you KH for your replay.I will have a proper look into this option. Another question: will you save stem cells for only one of your child or the coming ones in the future if you are planing to have more kids?

345

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 25 June 2013 - 13:16

For me, it is an insurance policy. Not just for baby from whom the stem cells will be collected, but my other children and even DH and me. We hope we will never have to use it, but it's there in case we do. When I asked my doctor her thoughts, she said that in her opinion, if we could afford it, we shouldn't hesitate to do it. With new medical treatments being developed all the time using stem cells, it makes sense to me to have some stored. HTH.

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 June 2013 - 15:04

Just out of curiosity and please don't answer if you don't feel like. How do you decide to consider or go through this procedure? Do you have some family history or special concerns regarding diseases that your child might have in the future? Or Are you doing it just in case and to be in the safe side? I'm expecting and would like to consider all the possibilities. Thanks

118

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 June 2013 - 11:38

I've used smart cells and didn't pay them until after they collected the cells. They were really helpful.

34

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 June 2013 - 09:04

Thanks T85 for the info... I will get some more research done on it..

345

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 17:18

Hi aish_dxb Cord blood stem cell + cord tissue is approximately 15000 DHS for all 3 i have contacted (Biovault, Smartcells and Cells4Life). 3500 DHS (Biovault and Smart cells) / 4500 DHS (Cells4Life) initial payment for the kit. The rest is on an installment basis (upto 6 months). 2 of them offered me an early bird discount – around 1000 DHS (Biovault and Smart cells). Hi KH Biovault is also a UK company (in the booklet it says their headoffice is in the UK). Cells4Life actually have a premium package which is an extra 3000DHS to store the blood sample as is, they claim it stores more types of stem cells. I asked the represntative if there has been any issues due to the iron in the red blood cells, she said there has been no evidence of this being a problem. But anyways I don't see the need to pay extra for a service that I am not sure about. However, they also claim that they can isolate and store 20% more stem cells from smartcells due to the machine they use. I would love to get as much feedback as possible. Wishing you all the best! Oh I missed the fact that bio vault was UK as well...too late now ;) I also didn't see the point of paying for the premium package from cells4life for the reasons you point out, and that it is not industry standard globally. The fact is if you have to use the cells at a later date, the red blood cells have to be removed anyway so I don't see the point of not doing it before freezing. The 'extra types of stem cells' would be stored in the cord tissue anyway, if you choose to save this. Will let you know how the whole collection/transfer/storage process goes in a couple of weeks.

117

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 16:39

I used Cryo-save! My friends have used it and they store it in Belgium. Since I am from Europe and my DH USA, we thought we will put it there. However, there was something going on with the container shipment. Our cells did not leave Dubai completely until a year later. They store first 20% and then 80%! My advise to you is this: PLEASE DO NOT PAY THEM UNTIL ALL THE CELLS ARE AT THEIR DESTINATION!!!! This is very important. They will try to get the payment from you beforehand, but DH and I refused and said they will only get the remaining money (12K) when we have the certificate that proves that the cells are stored in Belgium. The first 3K we paid upon collection of the cells prior to delivery.

30

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 16:39

Hi aish_dxb Cord blood stem cell + cord tissue is approximately 15000 DHS for all 3 i have contacted (Biovault, Smartcells and Cells4Life). 3500 DHS (Biovault and Smart cells) / 4500 DHS (Cells4Life) initial payment for the kit. The rest is on an installment basis (upto 6 months). 2 of them offered me an early bird discount – around 1000 DHS (Biovault and Smart cells). Hi KH Biovault is also a UK company (in the booklet it says their headoffice is in the UK). Cells4Life actually have a premium package which is an extra 3000DHS to store the blood sample as is, they claim it stores more types of stem cells. I asked the represntative if there has been any issues due to the iron in the red blood cells, she said there has been no evidence of this being a problem. But anyways I don't see the need to pay extra for a service that I am not sure about. However, they also claim that they can isolate and store 20% more stem cells from smartcells due to the machine they use. I would love to get as much feedback as possible. Wishing you all the best!

345

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 15:44

I did a lot of research on the different technologies and processes, how the cells are processed, stored and re-used for treatment. In the end I decided to go with Smart cells, but haven't actually used their service yet as I'm only due in a few weeks. I only compared cells4life and smart cells as I wanted a UK company, and the others are non-UK. On researching some of the claims made by cells4life, I struggled to find independent verification. Whole-blood storage is not the industry standard anymore (although this is how they used to do it 10-20 yrs ago) And cells4life is the only company that offers this service as far as i know. I also chose to store cord tissue, which will have similar properties as the whole blood anyway. I liked that smart cells have successfully used stem cells they have stored in treatments. There are no guarantees though, this is still relatively new technology and medical science and hopefully we'll never have to use it! I can update once I've gone through the whole process. ETA you should ask your doctor why she recommends them in the order she does - my doctor refused to give me a recommendation, saying they were all much of a muchness and I should do my own research. <em>edited by KH on 20/06/2013</em>

34

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 14:12

Hi T85.. even i wanted to know more about this.. what is the cost kind the companies are telling you?

34

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 14:12

Hi T85.. even i wanted to know more about this.. what is the cost kind the companies are telling you?

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