Cord blood Contains Red Blood Cells. Because red blood cells 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+, the stem cells that matter for treatment success and patient survival, and other stem cells. According to Pregnancy Weekly, red blood cell depletion is among the “must-have” features in choosing a cord blood bank. 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.

References: 1. Data on file, LifebankUSA; 2008. 8. Biosafe. Umbilical cord blood–low buffy-coat volume. Available at: http://biosafe.ch/cms/statique/ucb.html. Accessed July 11, 2008. 9. Dobrila L, Chapman J, Marr D, Kumar V, Coelho P, Rubinstein P. ThermoGenesis AXP AutoXpress Platform and BioArchive System for Automated Cord Blood Banking. ThermoGenesis Corp, Rancho Cordova, CA. 2006.
Red Blood Cell Depletion Benefits. Depleting red blood cells helps avoid the need for additional preparation if cord blood stem cells are needed for transplant. Additional preparation could decrease the number of lifesaving stem cells available. Red blood cell depletion also reduces the risk of blood type incompatibility, which could lead to complications if the cord blood unit is used for a sibling or other relative.
LifebankUSA's processing can improve treatment and survival rates with:

“I recommend banking placenta-derived stem cells and cord blood because it gives you the most cells possible—including more of the stem cells that matter most for a potentially lifesaving transplant. LifebankUSA is the only cord blood banking company that provides placenta-derived stem cells and cord blood stem cell banking to families.”
—Mitchell S. Cairo, MD | Chief of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Division at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Pathology at Columbia University and a pioneer in the use of cord blood stem cells for transplant.
"I am a repeat LifebankUSA customer. This time around, we had the chance to bank both placenta-derived stem cells and cord blood. Only LifebankUSA offered this option. My wife and I wanted the best protection for our family, so we banked both. We have greater peace of mind knowing we collected the most cells possible. Thank you LifebankUSA."
-Dave S., New Jersey
LifebankUSA can provide substantially more potentially lifesaving cells for treatment - clinical studies have shown that using more cells greatly increased the chances of treatment success and patient survival. And, LifebankUSA cord blood units are on average 99% pure.
Click here for a free information kit and call our cord blood experts toll-free 1-877-543-3226 for more information on: