Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing to save your baby’s cord blood stem cells can be a life-saving decision. Insception understands you may have a few questions. Below you’ll find some answers to help you better understand cord blood banking and what’s involved. If you have any concerns that are not answered here, please contact Insception.

1. When do I need to register?

As you only have one chance to collect your baby’s cord blood – immediately after birth – Insception recommends ordering your collection kit 4-6 weeks prior to your baby’s birth. However, you may register at anytime during your pregnancy. Be sure to allow sufficient time to complete registration and to obtain your collection kit. You should inform your physician or midwife about your decision to bank your child's cord blood.

2. Who else is banking their child's cord blood stem cells?

Families from all walks of life have been choosing to bank their children's cord blood.
  • Some individuals have a known family history of illness, treatable by stem cells.
  • Others have no family history, but want the security of knowing they have a treatment option available in the event a medical crisis occurs or a new scientific advancement develops.
  • Members of various ethnic groups who may have more difficulty obtaining a bone marrow match from unrelated donors choose to save their child’s cord blood.1

3. How are cord blood stem cells stored?

Once processed, the stem cells are cooled and frozen in a programmable liquid nitrogen (LN2) controlled-rate freezer and then quickly placed into long term LN2 vapor phase frozen storage. The stem cells are stored in a special cryoprotectant blood bag that can withstand temperatures as low as -196 degrees Celsius (-321 degrees Fahrenheit).

4. How long can my child’s stem cells be stored?

Current literature has shown that cord blood stem cells remain viable after 24 years of storage in liquid nitrogen. We expect the time limit for stem cell storage without impairment will be much longer. 2

5. Can I collect my child’s cord blood stem cells AND delay the cord clamping?

Professional advice from our Medical Director, Dr. Robert Casper:
  • Delayed clamping of the cord will increase blood going to the baby but will decrease the volume of blood left in the cord for collection.
  • Delayed clamping is likely not that beneficial for healthy full term babies.
  • The real benefit of delayed cord clamping would be in premature or small for dates babies or if the mother is anemic.
  • We would not suggest delayed clamping if you want to maximize the amount of cord blood collected but for most healthy babies it is probably not a problem whatever you decide.
  • If the baby is small or premature, the delayed clamping should be done to maximize the baby’s blood volume and iron stores, and cord blood collection should be a secondary concern.
  • Your attending Physician will not collect the cord blood if it puts your health or the health of your baby at risk.

For more information, click here.

6. What blood work will I need to have done?

Health Canada Regulations and AABB standards require the following tests be completed either the day you have your baby or within 7 days of birth:

  • Hepatitis B (HBsAg)
  • Hepatitis B Core Antibody (Anti-HBc)
  • Hepatitis C (Anti-HCV)
  • HIV 1/2
  • HTLV I/II
  • CMV
  • Syphilis Screen
  • West Nile Virus
    Please note:
  • Health Canada Regulations exclude those with certain blood transmissible diseases, including HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C from banking cord blood. If you think you may have such a disease or have engaged in a high-risk activity that may have exposed you to such a disease, please discuss with one of our Clinical Consultants before continuing with the enrollment process.
  • If, after collecting and processing the cord blood, the maternal testing identifies an infectious disease which Health Canada lists as excluding a donor from cord blood banking, you will be contacted by one of our Clinical Consultants.

7. Why is there a fee for collecting and storing my child’s stem cells?

At present, there is no government funding available to cover the various expenses associated with this procedure – such as personnel (laboratory workers, nurses and administrative staff), supplies, equipment, laboratory and storage facilities.

8. When do I receive the collection kit?

Once we receive your completed registration documents, you will be contacted to make arrangements for the delivery of your collection kit. 

9. Can I pick up my collection kit? Where?

Yes, you may choose to pick up your collection kit at one of our many sites. Detailed driving instructions and a map are available in our Locations section.  You can also pick up your kit from our head office is located in Mississauga, Ontario. We are located at 1 - 1620 Tech Ave.

10. What should I do with the collection kit?

Review the “Instruction Booklet” included with the collection kit and complete the medical questionnaire found at the back of the booklet. Store the kit indoors at room temperature, not in your car where temperature extremes may affect the collection kit. Remember to take your cord blood collection kit with you to your birthing center when you are ready to deliver. We recommend packing it along with your other personal items in the overnight bag you will be taking to the hospital.

11. What happens during collection?

The collection process can take as little as five minutes. It’s clean, painless and does not interfere with your delivery. Your healthcare provider clamps and cuts the umbilical cord. Next, instead of discarding the cord, a small area is sanitized and a needle, with a blood bag attached, is inserted into the umbilical vein. The cord blood flows by gravity into the collection bag. Your collection kit contains the supplies and instructions for your healthcare provider.

12. How much cord blood is enough?

The minimum volume of cord blood suggested to collect is 35 ml for a total bag volume of 70 ml (i.e. 35 ml of cord blood plus 35 ml of anticoagulant). The collection bag itself contains 35 ml of clear anticoagulant, which preserves the stem cells until they are processed. The presence of this anticoagulant may create the visual impression that the volume of cord blood is more than is actually collected. Your unit will be accurately measured at the Insception laboratory. For more information, click here.

13. What do I do once the cord blood is collected?

Within two hours of your baby's birth, please call Insception as per the instructions in the "Collection Kit Booklet". Insception will arrange for pick up of your cord blood unit by our medical courier within 24 hours of receiving your phone call. Our staff will provide a confirmation call within 24 hours of receipt of your unit at our facility.

14. Why is the storage contract for 18 years?

The mother is the custodian of the cord blood stem cell sample, it cannot be released or used without her written consent and permission. Once  the child turns 18 years old, they then become the owner of record and can make decisions with regards to the unit. As the contract gets close to the 18-year mark, clients will be given the option to renew the contract.

15. What will happen to my cord blood stem cells if I move?

If you move, your cord blood will remain safe and secure with Insception. If there is ever a need, Insception can ship your cord blood anywhere in the world. There may be transportation charges associated with the transfer.

16. What happens if I choose to stop storing my child’s stem cells?

Should you decide that you no longer wish to store your child's cord blood unit, you have the option to:

  • Donate to our public bank
  • Donate to our research department
  • Discard

Insception will require that you complete an authorization form to terminate storage before removing the cord blood stem cells from storage.

17. What happens if we need the stems cells?

If your child or another family member requires your cord blood stem cells for transplant, your physician will contact our laboratory and we will arrange the cord blood’s safe transportation.  Insception has extensive experience releasing cord blood units for transplantation both locally and internationally.

18. Can I be assured of a successful transplant using my cord blood stem cells?

The decision to transplant using your cord blood stem cells will be made by the transplanting physician. There are many factors that influence the outcome of a transplant, including disease and disease status. As with using bone marrow for treatment, there are no guarantees that cord blood stem cells will provide an effective treatment, similar to bone marrow.  However, the availability of matched cord blood stem cells provides the transplant physician with a viable option to treat certain diseases.
Worldwide, more than 20,000 cord blood stem cell transplants have been performed. To date, the Insception Cord Blood Program has processed and released 12 cord blood units for transplant and 8 cord blood units for cellular therapies.
100% of the stored units at Insception that were released for treatment met the criteria for transplant.

19. Will anyone else have access to my child’s stem cells?

No. Your cord blood stem cells are stored for your child's and your family's needs. The sample will only be released with your written authorization.

20. Who regulates cord blood banks in Canada?

Since December 2007, all cord blood banks in Canada must comply with Health Canada under the "Safety of Cells, Tissues and Organs" (CTO) regulations. All cord blood banks are required to be registered with Health Canada and are subject to inspection at any time.

21. How is my personal information kept confidential at Insception?

During the course of registration, Insception gathers only personal and health related information required to perform the cord blood banking services. Insception is committed to protecting the privacy of all personal and health information through adherence to its "Privacy Policy", which is in compliance with the "Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act" (PIPEDA). Questions or concerns about Insception's Privacy Statement may be sent to info@insception.com.

REF:
1. Bergstrom et al. “One Chance in a Million: Altruism and the Bone Marrow Registry”. AEA. 2009: vol. 99, 4; 1309-1334.
2. Cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, Dr. Hal E. Broxmeyer  http://www.stembook.org/node/693