NeoCells Cord Blood Bank

By Cord Blood Advisor on June 28th, 2007

NeoCells

INTERNET: www.neocells.com

PHONE: 888-50-CELLS

OFFICE: Palm Harbor, FL

STORAGE: Reproductive Genetics Institute, Chicago, IL and Community Blood Services, Allendale, NJ

Accreditation: RGI: none; CBS: AABB, NJ, NY

COMMENT: NeoCells is currently the “most affordable” family Cord Blood bank.

SERVICES & DISCOUNT OPTIONS:

Neocells and AdultCells are both marketing companies which are subsidiaries of Vivicells (office in Chicago). Neocells banks umbilical Cord Blood and AdultCells banks Stem Cells from adults. Both types of cells are considered by scientists to be “adult” Stem Cells.
Neocells and AdultCells share a laboratory at the Reproductive Genetics Institute (RGI). While RGI is world-reknowned for their work with embryonic Stem Cells, the Cord Blood laboratory is completely separate from the embryonic Stem Cell laboratory.
At present, the NeoCells processing method is to separate MonoNuclear Cells completely by centrifuge, with final cord blood storage in vials. NeoCells is switching to bag storage in order to obtain Accreditation by the AABB.
NeoCells also sub-contracts some of their cord blood processing to Community Blood Services in NJ, which has a fully accredited cord blood laboratory.
First year cost (as of June 2006) is only $845 (this includes first year of storage).
Parents are responsible to arrange and pay for return shipping of the collection.
Payment plans are available, discounts for pre-paid storage available.

ADDITIONAL information: The two companies, NeoCells LLC, which banks cord blood storage, and AdultCells LLC, which banks adult Stem Cells, are both subsidiaries of ViviCells International, LLC, which is “the nation’s first comprehensive family stem cell bank”. The laboratory partner of Vivicells is the Reproductive Genetics Institute (RGI), founded by Yury Verlinski, Ph.D. RGI does research on embryonic stem cells and claims to have isolated cell lines with specific disease markers. RGI has clinics around the world, in Chicago and Oakbrook, IL, USA, London, UK, Larnaca, Cyprus, St. Petersburg, Russia, Kieve, Ukraine, Tokyo, Japan, and Belize. The cord blood laboratory of Neocells is completely separate from the stem cell laboratory of Reproductive Genetics Institute, even though its directors are also affiliated with RGI. The Scientific Directors of the Neocells cord blood laboratory are Anver Kuliev, M.D., PhD and Gennady Tsukerman, M.D., PhD. Both doctors are experts on genetic disorders and Dr. Kuliev also currently operates the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Prevention of Genetic Disorders. Feeder website: www.CordBlood information.com