FAQs

Aren't all the cord blood banking companies the same?

Cord blood banking companies are not all the same. CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank utilizes high quality practices, stringent process and highly advanced technologies as guided by the CORD:USE team of the world's leading cord blood physicians and scientists to protect your family's cord blood. CORD:USE is obstetrician led and directed by an unparalleled team of the world's leading experts in cord blood banking, research and transplantation. The CORD:USE team of cord blood leaders and experts has experience with thousands of cord blood transplants. For more information regarding the CORD:USE team of cord blood experts, click here.

CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank will protect your family's cord blood at a state-of-the-art laboratory at which your baby's cord blood will be processed and stored using similar high-quality cord blood banking practices and technologies that are utilized with our public cord blood bank which places units into the federally created National Cord Blood Inventory. For more information regarding the high-quality practices and highly advanced technologies used by CORD:USE, click here.

We know that you do everything you can to protect your family. That is why we do everything we can to protect your family's cord blood.

What is the CORD:USE team's experience with cord blood research?

Many of the members of the CORD:USE team that direct our practices to protect your family's cord blood are recognized as the founders of cord blood transplantation and are trailblazers in the ongoing research in the field. We are honored to have the physicians and scientists who have contributed so much to the history of cord blood banking and transplantation as part of the CORD:USE team. For more information about the CORD:USE team and how they have contributed to the history of cord blood banking and research, click here.

What is CORD:USE's corporate stability?

CORD:USE is a financially sound privately-held organization, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. Our financial records have been audited each year by Grant Thornton, LLP and we have a history of consistent growth. Because of our financial stability and credibility, CORD:USE has employed and partnered with the most influential and well known doctors and scientists in cord blood banking and transplantation.

Where is the CORD:USE cord blood storage facility located?

Orlando, Florida. We believe Orlando is an ideal location for a cord blood storage facility for several reasons. Orlando has one of the busiest airports in the U.S. with many direct flights from other major U.S. cities. Orlando International Airport currently services over 40 major airlines and has more than 800 arrivals and departures. More direct flights mean fewer connections, less routing through areas of extreme temperature and less delays for your family's cord blood.

Orlando's hospitable climate also reduces delays that can be caused by airport and road closures. Orlando is located approximately 1 hour from the coast and therefore does not experience the weather systems that are experienced along the coasts of Florida.

Is the CORD:USE storage facility protected and secure?

The CORD:USE storage facility exceeds all standards to provide security, backup systems, and protection of your family's cord blood. Also, the BioArchive® Cryo-Storage System used by CORD:USE can keep cord blood frozen for prolonged periods without electricity.

Is the CORD:USE laboratory certified, compliant and registered?

The CORD:USE state-of-the-art laboratory where your family's cord blood will be processed and stored is FDA registered and follows all state and federal regulations. CORD:USE Family Cord Blood Bank will protect your cord blood using similar high-quality cord blood banking practices and technologies that are utilized with our public cord blood bank which is accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). FACT accreditation is considered by cord blood transplant physicians as one of the highest accreditations that can be achieved. In addition, the CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank laboratory processes were approved by the CORD:USE team of cord blood experts and designed to meet or exceed the standards established by FACT and other regulatory and accrediting agencies.

Will CORD:USE provide notification of the final cell count of the cord blood sample?

Yes. You will also be informed and consulted if the final cell count after processing is less than 100 million cells. The CORD:USE quality practices, advanced technologies and training materials we provide for obstetrical providers help to offer the best possibility that we will ultimately have a viable cord blood unit to store for your family.

What other notification will be received and when?

You will be informed when your family's cord blood unit is received at the CORD:USE laboratory. You will be informed of the results of the testing of the cord blood and maternal blood sample. You will also receive a letter from our laboratory as confirmation that the cord blood has been stored in the BioArchive® Cryo-Storage System.

What tests are performed on the maternal blood sample?

The maternal blood sample will be tested for infectious diseases including but not limited to: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Human T-Lymphotropic Viruses (HTLV), Syphilis, Chagas, West Nile Virus and Cytomegalovirus (CMV). The maternal blood sample will also be typed for ABO and Rh Factor and will be screened for any unexpected red blood cell antibodies. Cord blood samples will be discarded if the maternal sample test results are confirmed positive for HIV. If an infectious disease is present, the mother will be contacted by CORD:USE. We are also required to follow any laws regarding contacting health officials when samples are found to be positive with certain infectious diseases. Additional important information regarding testing, storing and possible reasons for discarding cord blood samples can be found in the Client Service Agreement and Informed Consent.