Why Choose Cell Care?

Only Cell Care:

• has stored the most cord blood and tissue samples of all Australian banks
• funds and provides Australians access to clinical trials
• does not charge to release and transport your cord blood for approved therapeutic uses
• offer you a refund if your cord blood or tissue is not collected or stored

 

Cell Care is licensed by Therapeutic Goods Administration Australia and is the leading Australian cord blood and tissue bank in:

• Experience
• Releases
• Research and Scientific Capability
• Education
• Customer Service
• Innovation

Experience

Cell Care has collected and stored the most cord blood and tissue samples in Australia. We work with more obstetricians at more hospitals than the alternative Australian private cord blood banks. Cell Care has the largest network of trained collectors supporting obstetricians across the country and we collect at almost all public and private hospitals.

Cell Care's experience

Releases

Cord blood stored with Cell Care has been used (released) in place of bone marrow to regenerate the blood and immune systems after being damaged by diseases like leukaemia. We have also released cord blood in the setting of clinical trials.

Cell Care is focused on increasing the potential use of stem cells by partnering with leading research institutions to establish approved clinical trials in regenerative medicine. These groundbreaking trials only use cord blood stem cells processed by Cell Care as a way of ensuring consistent quality.

Cell Care has released for multiple therapies & clinical trials including neuroblastoma, cerebral palsy, acute myeloid leukaemia, T-Cell Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia & type 1 diabetes. This includes sibling and autologous for local and international therapies/trials.

Importantly, there are no charges incurred to release your cord blood for regulator-approved use(s) and Cell Care will deliver it using dedicated medical transportation to any hospital in the world; free of charge.

Research and scientific capability

Cell Care is committed to the ongoing development of stem cell therapy science and research. We are the only cord blood and tissue bank in Australia participating in cell therapy clinical trials. Find more information about trials for the following conditions:

Cerebral palsy

>Type 1 diabetes

online enrolment and online medical questionnaire completion. This is testimony to the leadership that Cell Care demonstrates in the Australian market.

Government licensed

Cell Care operates with an Australian government approved licence provided by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Licence No. MI-2009-LI-04618-3.  

Cell Care's TGA license

As yet there are no approved therapies that utilise stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissue. This means no Australian private cord blood bank may obtain a TGA license for the release of umbilical cord tissue. Importantly, a TGA licence is not required for tissue to be stored for the future. However, Cell Care’s cord tissue storage process was developed in conjunction with leading researchers from the Monash Institute of Medical Research. We collect, process and store umbilical cord tissue according to the Australian code of Good Manufacturing Process.

Cord blood and tissue storage & processing

Cord blood processing

Pregnancy and birth can be an unpredictable process and this may impact the volume of cord blood collected at the time of birth. Cell Care does not use a minimum collection volume to determine if your cord blood sample will be stored. Whilst the cord blood collection volume is important, most critical is the number of stem cells and the viability (ability to grow) of the sample.

Cell Care utilise state of the art equipment including flow cytometers and cell impedance counters to assess the cord blood samples. Our processes enable us to determine the quality of your cord blood sample upon storage. In the event your cord blood sample does not meet certain important measures you will be notified immediately to discuss your options.

Cell Care’s cord blood measures

Cord tissue processing

Cell Care stores an entire segment of the cord tissue.  By doing so, Cell Care stores all cell populations in the cord tissue. Should future cell therapies be developed using any of the cord tissue cell types, including MSCs, Cell Care clients will have these relevant cells stored.

Both the process of isolating MSC’s and the process of storing a whole segment of cord tissue require cell expansion (growing) after being thawed in order to be ‘treatment ready’. All clinical trials to date around the world are using expanded MSC’s.

Cell Care’s storage facility

Cell Care provides a safe and secure environment for your baby’s cord blood and tissue stem cells. Access is restricted to authorised personnel. Cell Care’s laboratories, environment and samples are monitored 24/7 for storage temperature, fire and security. Early warning systems are in place to identify any potential problem long before cells could be impacted. 

Laboratories and equipment

Cell Care is a member of the Victoria Consortium for Cellular Therapies (VCCT) and is the only private cord bank in Australia to house a Biospherix Isolator for research and processing. This provides a complete barrier from environmental and operator-borne sources of contamination, from start to completion of processing, which is not readily achievable in a standard cleanroom setting.

Cell Care also houses multiple advanced optipress machines, cell impedance counters and flow cytometry equipment to meet all regulatory and scientific requirements for cell storage. We have invested in technology to maximise the likelihood of storing cord blood even in the event of lower volumes.

Quality management systems  

Cell Care operates according to the highest level of quality management systems to ensure your cord blood and tissue are stored in an approved manner. All of Cell Care’s processes are structured according to, and aligned with the Australian code of Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and the Foundation of Accredited Cellular Therapies standard (FACT/ Netcord). Cell Cares’ processes aim to ensure full product compliance, traceability and quality control of your baby’s cord blood and tissue.

Financial security

All cord blood and tissue products are stored on site in our state of the art facility. We have low debt levels and are growing rapidly as cord blood and tissue storage becomes increasingly commonplace in Australia. We have a strong commitment to the Australian health care and medical research sectors. 

Cell Care Group Releases

For further information on releases from the Cell Care Group, please view or download our Cell Care Group Releases document here. (88.2 KB) .