NO MORE VIALS FOR CBR? - ONWARD WITH THERMOGENESIS CRYO-SYSTEMS & SPECIALLY DESIGNED CRYOBAGS...!
I read with great interest that one of the world's largest and oldest cord blood stem cell banks, Cord Blood Registry (CBR) made an announcement on a 15-year contract with GE Healthcare (distributor) and Thermogenesis (manufacturer) to puchase disposables and utilize an auto expressor system to separate the stem cells. Presumably, this will also put CBR in line with AABB's new guidelines specifying that closed system processing and storage of stem cell units with "integrally attached segments" (ie the multi-compartment bag from Thermogenesis).
From the Thermogenesis website
Post FY2006
*In August 2006, GE Healthcare and Cord Blood Registry (CBR), the world's
largest family cord blood bank, announced a multi-year contract to supply
CBR with ThermoGenesis' AutoXpress cord blood processing system and
disposables and ThermoGenesis signed a Product Development and Supply
Assurance Agreement with CBR which assures the supply of AutoXpress
products for a 15-year period.
This no doubt is very profitable for Thermogenesis which according to their press release stands to gain more than 4 million USD in disposable revenue each year for the next 15 years from CBR alone.
We were approached by the company as StemLife has banked clients' stem cells in Thermogenesis cryo-bags since the beginning, but we have yet to evaluate the auto expressor system and its pricing for suitable application for the Malaysian and Thai market. Right now, our 24 hour lab service and passionately responsible laboratory team members ensure that all the strictest standards are adhered to, which we have proven through facilitating transplant requests.
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4 comments:
thanks that's interesting... are there any banks in Asia that still use the old bag system?
thanks for the info... are there still any cord blood banks in Asia using the old vial storage method?
thanks.. interesting... are there still any blood banks in Asia using the old storage in vials method??
Hi Dave and Stefan,
Thank you for your question. My reasoning first, final answer at the end.
In fact, there are still quite a few banks who have not made the change for a few reasons which may be as follows:
1) Costly to change systems
2) Time to re-train staff in handling new equipment
3) Sales pitch on the 'superiority' of vials is not valid in this case
Vials have been around for a long time. It was the simplest design- a slim, plastic tube with a screw on lid to contain biological samples whether they are fluid or solid state, and able to withstand temperatures of -196 degrees Celsius.
The disadvantages are:
a) Vial's mouth is as large as its internal core- hence spillage, contamination by airborne particles etc is high.
b) Uneven freeze/thaw- due to the internal diameter, the contents nearest the surface of the vials will freeze first and the inner core last. This is thought to affect the contents due to uneven exposure.
c) Possible mix-up- storing contents in multiple vials requires multiple labelling. Errors may occur in the labelling of the vial, or perhaps in the incorrect removal of a neighbouring vial instead. (Imagine vial storage to be similar to eggs in an egg crate, turn the box around and you could pick up the wrong units)
Hence, the bag system was designed and introduced to reduce these occurences. Its structure is:
1) Flat - even freezing/ thawing
2) One piece- you won't take the wrong one
3) Sealed with another outer bag - protects the label and its intergrally attached segments
StemLife could bank the stem cells in vials (if there is a very valid reason to do so) but we believe that the advantages that the cryo-bag offers far outweighs the pricing and inconvenience of vials.
StemLife's local competitor Cryocord* uses the vial method and I've had some verbal feedback from clients that the reason is because it will allow parents to utilize the cord blood stem cells more than once. What they fail to add, is how much is required for use and if or when cell expansion will become available.
No doubt we have to keep an eye on the future, but let's not neglect the present. Preserving for an immediate or future use, cord blood stem cells will do just fine in the specially designed cryo-bag.
Yours sincerely,
Sharon
* Apart from Cryocord, other banks around the region including Stemcord (Singapore) and Babybanks (Taiwan) also currently offer vials system only.
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