• The only cord blood bank registered with the FDA to collect lifesaving stem cells from 2 sources that help sustain your baby's life during pregnancy: the cord blood and the placenta (also known as Placenta-Cord banking).
• Placenta-Cord Banking can provide you with the most stem cells possible. Research has shown that treating debilitating and life-threatening diseases with more stem cells may significantly improve treatment success and patient survival.

• LifebankUSA cord blood units are on average 99% pure or free of red blood cells. If a cord blood bank's processing method resulted in a high percentage of red blood cells remaining in the final cord blood unit, complications could occur if administered to your baby.

• Placenta-Cord banking allows patients to bank more stem cells than they can with cord blood banking alone.
• Higher number of CD34+ stem cells transplanted leads to better treatment success and patient survival.^1-5

• Unlike other cord blood banks, LifebankUSA enables patients to save stem cells from 2 sources-the placenta and the cord blood-yielding 2 distinct units.

• CD34+ dose is the most important determinant of successful hematopoietic (blood-forming) recovery and transplant engraftment.^4-8
• Higher CD34+ dose leads to a significantly improved chance of transplant success and patient survival.^2-5
• Higher number of CD34+ stem cells transplanted may overcome some degree of HLA (a genetic marker of "self" which prevents the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues) mismatch-an important advantage for biological family member use.^9,10
• As a baby grows into adulthood, he or she will require more CD34+ stem cells for transplant.

A clinical study at the University of Minnesota shows CD34+ stem cell benefits²

These findings are from a study at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and Cancer Center (one of the select few institutes recognized as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute). As with cord blood, collections from the placenta are variable and sometimes not possible..

Promising clinical results with Placenta-Cord banking

The ongoing clinical study: A clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of umbilical cord blood augmented with human placenta-derived stem cells in children with a range of malignant and non-malignant disorders.¹¹ Early data suggest safety and potential benefits.
The transplant success story: In 2007, a family banked its baby's placenta-derived stem cells and cord blood stem cells with LifebankUSA. In 2008, the baby's older brother underwent a transplant using both placenta-derived and cord blood units to treat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
The Placenta-Cord Advantage: "Engraftment occurred earlier than anticipated. The patient is doing extremely well and was discharged from the hospital 1 to 2 weeks earlier compared to traditional cord blood transplants."
-Lolie C. Yu, MD
• Professor of Pediatrics; Division Chief, Pediatric Heme-Onc Program; and Director, BMT Program, Children's Hospital, New Orleans.
Transplant outcome is based on many factors and individual results may vary. While there is no guarantee of similar transplant success, a large CD34+ cell dose has been shown to improve transplant outcome.

Why recommend Placenta-Cord banking?

Placenta-Cord banking can substantially increase the number of banked CD34+ stem cells-the cells that matter most for transplant success and patient survival.^2,11 Clinical studies have shown that transplanting more CD34+ stem cells greatly increases the chances of treatment success and patient survival. ^2-5

The LifebankUSA Advantage: Achieves 99% purity

LifebankUSA processing can improve treatment success and survival rates. Because red blood cells (RBCs) in cord blood have no benefit and can lead to complications, LifebankUSA uses a process called "red blood cell depletion" so that cord blood units are, on average, 99% pure. Purity is defined as containing only non-red blood cells such as CD34+ stem cells and other stem cells. LifebankUSA cord blood units are on average 99% pure - or free of red blood cells. If a cord blood bank's processing method resulted in a high percentage of red blood cells remaining in the final cord blood unit, complications could occur if administered to your baby. ^{7,11,12,13,14,15}
• LifebankUSA processing depletes virtually all unwanted RBCs; these cells may cause complications if stem cells are needed for a transplant.^7,12,13

LifebankUSA processing can improve treatment and survival rates with:
– Less risk of ABO (blood type) incompatibility, which can decrease engraftment success and increase complications and mortality.^7,12,13,16
– Less need for RBC removal through post-thaw "washing," which can decrease transplant engraftment success, overall survival, and Total Nucleated Cell (TNC) count.^7,18

Some cord blood banks leave significant amounts of RBCs in cord blood units, artificially inflating the TNC count with nucleated red blood cells.¹⁰

Expectant parents are often approached by cord blood banks promising them the highest stem cell recovery rates, often referred to as TNC, or Total Nucleated Cell Recovery. While many cord blood banks may mention that the goal of cord blood banking is saving as many stem cells as possible for your family, they may fail to mention specifically that their reported TNC includes the nucleated red cells, thereby artificially inflating the number of stem cells the cord blood banks claim to be available for the patient.   In fact, in 2006 a published study of cord blood units, showed that many cord blood units had more than 40% nucleated red blood cells, which in cord blood have no benefit and can lead to complications when the cord blood unit is used to treat a life-threatening disease or condition.

Perhaps, as many medical professionals recommend to expectant parents, a more important measure is the number of CD34+ cells collected.  Research has shown that the more CD34+ stem cells used, the greater the chances of treatment success and survival. ^2,4 Thus, expectant parents should focus on choosing a cord blood bank that can offer them as many CD34+ stem cells as possible. In fact, many medical professionals have started educating patients considering cord blood banking that the goal of cord blood banking is saving as many CD34+ stem cells as possible. Expecting parents have a greater chance of collecting the most CD34+ stem cells possible by banking from two sources that help sustain their baby’s life during pregnancy: the placenta and the cord blood. Only LifebankUSA can provide you with the most stem cells possible by collecting not only the cord blood, but also an additional unit of CD34+ stem cells from the placenta.