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Why should we store our baby's stem cells?
Currently, there are over seventy diseases for which cord blood stem cells have been found to be useful. Some of these diseases, such as leukemia, are common. Some of these diseases, such as most metabolic disorders, are rare. It is our strong belief that stem cells will one day provide treatment for spinal cord injury, breast cancer, burns, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, heart attack, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and numerous other dreadful illnesses.
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Are there religious objections to placental stem cell storage?
To our knowledge, all of the world’s major religions are in support of cord blood stem cell storage and usage. In fact, Pope Benedict XVI has explicitly endorsed this science. These cells are taken from the placenta (afterbirth), and would otherwise be discarded after the baby is delivered.
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What is the chance that my baby or a member of my family will ever need these cells?
As it stands today, the odds that your baby will use his or her cord blood is approximately 1 in 2,700. The odds that a family member will use these cells is 1 in 1,400. If you had asked this question in 1988, the chance of these cells being used would have been approximately 1 in 40,000. As research progresses, many doctors and scientists believe stem cells will become a very frequent treatment option for a wide variety of diseases.
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Will storing these cells be a waste of money?
As a form of biologic insurance, it is everyone’s hope that these cells will not be needed. However, when you realize that 1 out of 333 babies will develop cancer before the age of 21, and that billions of dollars are being spent on stem cell research, it becomes easy to see just how valuable stem cell storage may be to your family.
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What about public stem cell banks?
Stork Medical strongly supports the development of public banks. These banks will be beneficial to those of us who will not have access to a close relative’s stem cells. Unfortunately, as the New England Journal of Medicine noted, stem cells from unrelated donors are less likely to be helpful than one’s own cells.
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Can my baby’s stem cells help other family members?
With your permission, your baby’s stem cells can be used to help any family member. The closer the blood relation to your baby, the more likely these cells are to be effective. In a sense, when you choose to protect your baby’s future by storing these cells, you are also adding future health protection for the baby’s parents, siblings, and to a lesser extent, other family members as well. The ability to use stored cord blood stem cells depends in part on the disease being treated, the volume of cells successfully frozen, and the size of the patient. In other words, a larger volume stored will allow a larger person to be treated. Your health care provider will attempt to collect as much cord blood as possible, but sometimes only small quantities are available.
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How is cord blood collected?
This is a pain-free process using umbilical cord blood that would otherwise be discarded. Cord blood collection usually begins several minutes after you and your partner have been given your baby to hold. Nothing additional is done to your baby, and it should not affect family bonding time. Prior to delivery, Mom will have to undergo a blood draw that will be sent with the cord blood, to undergo federally mandated screening for infectious diseases. Your healthcare provider will deliver the placenta, and using our specialized collection kit, collect the placental cord blood. Some healthcare providers may collect blood from the cord while waiting for the placenta to be delivered. This method tends to increase the amount of blood collected, but increases the risk of contamination. All cord blood samples are tested for viability and contamination prior to acceptance for long-term storage. Pictures of the collection process can be viewed on our website, http://www.stork.md/ (Learn More pages).
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Do we use Heparin-free Collection Bags?
We are pleased that other cord blood collection companies are beginning to use heparin-free cord blood collection bags. As an industry leader in cord blood stem cell processing and storage, Stork Medical has always used collection bags free of heparin. As always, Stork Medical offers the highest quality at the lowest possible price.
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What happens after the cord blood is collected?
After the cord blood is collected, the courier service is contacted for transport. In some circumstances, such as when families deliver on base, you will be asked to bring the sample to the courier for further transport. We ask that you keep the sample package at room temperature. The cells remain viable for nearly seventy-two hours. Typically, we have the sample in our lab within about twelve hours of our courier taking possession. Your baby’s cord blood is tracked electronically until it has reached the laboratory. Upon arrival at the laboratory, the sample is checked for sample size, cell viability, and temperature. Starting in the delivery room, and extending throughout the whole process, your baby’s cord blood sample and maternal blood sample are clearly labeled with a unique identifier number for easy identification. In the laboratory, the process to isolate the stem cells is undertaken, and the tests to detect infectious diseases and contamination are administered.
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Why should I use Stork Medical?
Quite simply, Stork Medical offers the best for less! For some military families, we are giving away our services for free. For the rest, we have deeply discounted our prices, and created extended payment plans.
Customer Service: To begin with, our customer service is the envy of the industry. Stork Medical stands ready to answer all of your questions in a friendly and straightforward manner. You will never be pressured or pestered. Every family that signs-up will receive a telephone call from our company president, Dr. Jonathan Liss, to make certain that every question and concern has been addressed.
Sample Transportation: With Stork, cord blood transportation is a worry-free process. Our courier is an expert in tissue transport and will have your baby’s cord blood in our laboratory in less than twenty-four hours. All samples are tracked electronically.
Laboratory: Your baby’s cord blood will be processed by Community Blood Services, a full and generous partner in our military discount program. Community Blood Services is fully accredited by the FDA and AABB (American Association of Blood Banks). It is a world leader in cord blood transplants. In addition, it has top-notch security, emergency power generators, and individual storage tank alarms. Community Blood Services has over fifty years of experience.
Cost: It is our great pleasure and privilege to offer free and deeply discounted cord blood storage to our military. Because your family has made so many sacrifices for our country, the Stork Medical Family has made the decision to sacrifice for you. Please accept our thanks, on behalf of a grateful nation.
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What happens after my baby's fifth birthday?
If you desire, you can continue to store your baby’s cord blood, but there is no obligation to continue storage. The current fee for storage is $10.00 per month.
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What did the Surgeion General think of Stork's offer?
We thought it was important to discuss our gift with the Surgeon General office. Representatives of the Surgeon General’s office thanked us for supporting the troops and wished us well with this endeavor. The Surgeon General does not endorse companies or specific corporate donations. They noted that it will be a day of celebration for us all when these stem cells save the life of a soldier’s child who is stricken with leukemia, as they have been proven to do, or repair a damaged spinal cord as we are hoping they will one day be able to do.
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What storage Method does Stork Medical use?
Just like the Red Cross, Stork Medical uses blood bags for storage. Multiple compartments are used so that a small amount can be tested or used without disturbing the entire sample. Some companies use vials for stem cell storage. Both methods are acceptable. However, for a variety of reasons, we suspect most labs will gradually convert to using bags for storing stem cells.
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How soon do I have to make a decision?
Your friends at Stork Medical will be pleased to help you at any time during your pregnancy. However, there must be enough time for you to fill out the identification forms, read and sign contracts, review and sign consent forms, and make arrangements for payment. Because of this necessary paperwork, and the uncertainty of when your baby will arrive, we recommend that you enroll as soon as possible.
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What is Stork's refund policy?
If at any time prior to using the kit, you change your mind, you will be entitled to a full refund. If your cord blood is rejected because our experts find that the sample quality or quantity is insufficient, then we ask that you pay $300.00 to help off-set some of the costs incurred. The remainder of your fee will be waived.
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