Collection of stem cells from umbilical cord blood is a simple process; it does not require contact with the baby, and is neither painful nor dangerous for the baby or the mother.

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Modern medicine enables us to collect cord blood from the newborn’s umbilical cord, to preserve it and to use it in the future for treating severe diseases. It has been scientifically proven that umbilical blood that was cryopreserved after birth can be used for at least 20 years after its cryopreservation. Recent studies prove that the features of cells cryopreserved in the gas phase remain unchanged for decades.

How is blood collected from the umbilical cord?

• Cord blood originates from the baby's blood that remains in the placenta after delivery.
• After cutting the umbilical cord, while the placenta is still in the womb, the midwife attaches to it a syringe connected to a collection bag. The blood contained within the placenta is directly collected into the sterile collection bag.
• The baby is not involved in this process at all. The course of delivery is normal, and no action is taken to increase the amount of blood in the umbilical cord.
• Cord blood collection is also possible in caesarean sections and multi-fetal deliveries.
• Upon completion of collection, cord blood units are stored at room temperature and transported by a Taburit representative to the cord blood bank at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.
• The cord blood that was collected and the mother's blood that was taken during delivery are examined at the hospital in order to verify that the cord blood units are unimpaired and suitable for preservation.
• Cord blood is cryopreserved in the gas phase at a temperature of 196 degrees Celsius below zero, which enables its long term storage.
• Afterwards, the cord blood units are stored at Sheba Medical Center Tel-Hashomer, together with the blood units of the Center’s public cord blood bank, and under identical storage conditions.
• The family is notified of completion of the preservation process.