Why HealthBaby? > State-of-the-art Facility > BioArchive® Storage System

Specifically designed for stem cells processing and storage

Globally Well Recognized System
Increase Survival Rate after Transplant

Closed system handling to maintain stable temperature
Survival rate will be 10% higher after transplant15

Introducing BioArchive® Storage System

Widely adopted by global cord blood bank.

Compare Different Storage System

Compare Pros and Cons with traditional tank.

Transient Warming Events (TWEs)

Reduce stem cells viability and affect transplant quality.

How to Choose a Cord Blood Bank FAQs

Any questions? Check most asked questions by the parent.

The ONLY Private Cord Blood Bank Adopted BioArchive® in Hong Kong

  • FDA cleared, specifically designed for stem cells storage
  • Adopted by 170 cord blood banks in 42 countries
  • Adopted by worldwide large blood banks and 90% cord blood banks in Europe, as well as New York Blood Centre which performed most transplants worldwide
  • Provided over 75% stem cell samples of global cord blood transplants17
  • Survival rate is 10% higher than traditional tanks after transplant15
  • obotic storage and retrieval system
  • Closed system handling, eliminating the TWEs occurred in traditional tanks, which affect stem cells viability for future transplant18
  • Use of liquid nitrogen (stable temperature at -196˚C) as storage media, which is recommended by reports for long-term stem cells storage19
  • Built-in computerized monitoring system with precise storage record. No external equipment needed
  • Liquid nitrogen reservoir can maintain stable temperature for more than 50 days without electricity supply
  • No quality issue and recall history with BioArchive® in HealthBaby
  • FDA Cleared, never been compulsory recalled 20,21. Worldwide large blood banks implemented the BioArchive system to enhance the efficiency and quality of cord blood storage. In addition, 90% of the cord blood bank in Europe adopted BioArchive® system. It proves that this system is globally well recognized.

Cell Viability is the Key of Successful Rate of Transplants

Storing cord blood and umbilical cord is a lifetime safeguard for your children and families. No one wants to have chances to use one day, but if it really happens, have you ever thought of low viability of stem cells will let cord blood and umbilical cord lose its functions? HealthBaby introduced BioArchive® liquid nitrogen storage system which is adopted by most of public cord blood bank in globe (including New York Cord Blood Center, Tokyo Cord Blood Bank and worldwide large blood banks), the purpose is to give the best safeguard for parents.

Use of liquid nitrogen (stable temperature at -196°C) as storage media is recommended by reports for long-term stem cells storage19. Only liquid nitrogen can keep stable -196°C amd cord blood stem cells will suspend all physiological activities and remain dormant. On the contrary, other cord blood banks claimed that stem cells can be stored at 135 ℃ for permanent storage while there is no scientific evidence to prove so. And using traditional vapor nitrogen tank will lead to temperature fuctuation resulting from transient exposure to surrounding air while the stem cells are being cryopreserved, taken out, transported and transferred to vapor nitrogen tanks for storage. Vapor Nitrogen combined with TWEs will lead to loss of viability.

Compare BioArchive® Storage System and Traditional Tank

BioArchive® Storage System
Traditional Tank

Specificity

  • FDA cleared, specifically designed for stem cells storage
  • No compulsory recall by FDA due to stem cells quality20,21
  • For biological samples storage previously

Controlled Rate Freezing

  • Built-in controlled rate freezer and eradicates TWEs
  • Steady freezing rate at 2.8℃/min for optimal stem cells condition
  • External freezing procedure is required and samples have to experience unnecessary times to temperature differences and prolonged entry period

Transplant Quality

  • Provided over 75% samples of successful transplants worldwide
  • Survival rate is 10% higher than traditional tanks after transplant15
  • No significant increase in survival rate

Storage Media

  • Liquid nitrogen (-196˚C)
  • Stable temperature to maintain optimum stem cells viability22,23
  • Constant temperature, permanent storage for over 1,000 years19
  • Liquid nitrogen reservoir can maintain stable temperature for more than 50 days without electricity supply
  • No quality issue and recall history with BioArchive in HealthBaby
  • Liquid (Adopted by HealthBaby) / vapor nitrogen
  • The temperate of vapor nitrogen is unstable and may affect the viability of stem cells

Global Usage

  • Adopted by over 80% Netcord’s cord blood banks
  • Adopted by most public cord blood banks worldwide(including New York Cord Blood Center, Tokyo Cord Blood Bank and worldwide large blood banks). Since the cord blood samples are for local public use, the quality requirement is much higher than that of private blood bank, to ensure all samples reaching transplant standard
  • Adopted by 60% cord blood banks in developed countries
  • Mainly adopted by private cord blood banks

Cross Con-tamination

  • No matter the cord blood stores in liquid nitrogen or vapor nitrogen, a cross-contamination might happen if containers are not airtight. Only sealed containers can eliminate eventual cross-contaminations24,25
  • Reports showed sealed TG compartment molded freezing bags with liquid nitrogen storage can eradicate cross contamination34
  • Cross contamination cases happpened25

Design and Operation

  • Closed design with stable storage temperature
  • Independent access of samples by periscope without affecting others
    Eradicated TWEs, high stem cells viability guaranteed
  • Built-in 24-hour surveillance system for instant alarm
  • Manual mode to access samples for contingency
  • Open system causing inconsistent temperature inside the tank25
  • Shared compartment, accessing of one sample will also cause others exposed in great temperature difference18
  • Transient Warming Events (TWEs) may affect stem cells viability
  • Manual operation increases the risk of human errors

Transient Warming Events (TWEs)
Reduce Stem Cells Viability and Affect Transplant Quality

TWEs refers to temperature fluctuation resulting from transient exposure to surrounding air while the stem cells are being cryopreserved, taken out, transported and transferred to vapor nitrogen tanks for storage since they must operate in coordination with an external and independent freezing device. Such kind of repetitive temperature fluctuation will finally cause stem cells bursted and even died. Research report states that TWEs will reduce the number of stem cells even though it does not reach the significant level (>5%) in statistics. The fact is that millions of stem cells are lost due to TWEs18. Another report shows that Vapor Nitrogen combined with TWEs can lead to 20% loss of viability26.

Most Asked Questions by Parents Related to Service Plan Selection

Why HealthBaby persists to use liquid nitrogen as the storage medium?

Different from other private cord blood banks, HealthBaby persists to use the expensive liquid nitrogen (-196℃) as storage medium to provide the most quality cord blood and umbilical cord storage service. Using of liquid nitrogen (stable temperature at -196°C) as storage media, which is recommended by reports for long-term stem cells storage19,only liquid nitrogen can keep stable -196°C. Cord blood stem cells will suspend all physiological activities and remain dormant. On the contrary, reports show that vapor nitrogen and TWEs will reduce the stem cells viability by 20%26.

One of the most critical determinant of transplantation success is stem cells viability. HealthBaby's adoption of liquid nitrogen as storage medium is the best guard to every parents.

What is the storage system difference between HealthBaby's and other private cord blood bank?

HealthBaby is the only provider of the advanced BioArchive® system. The system is also adopted by worldwide large blood banks and 90% cord blood banks in Europe, as well as New York Blood Centre which performed most transplants worldwide. Other private cord blood bank are using the traditional vapor nitrogen storage system. According to research, cord blood stem cells will suspend all physiological activities and remain dormant19. On the contrary, reports show that vapor nitrogen and TWEs will reduce the stem cell viability by 20%26.

To cater for different needs of parents, HealthBaby also provide MVE system plan, providing one more option to expectant parents. However, all storage plan are using the expensive liquid nitrogen (-196°C) as storage means.

Other cord blood bank's MVE vapor nitrogen storage system:

  • Since the storage system is not closed, temperature fluctuation will cause TWEs upon every access of samples, seriously affect stem cells viability.
  • The claim of stem cells being able to store permanently under -135℃ is false and without any proof.

For more details of BioArchive® system please refer to BioArchive® System.

What is the difference between the processing system of HealthBaby and other private cord blood bank?

HealthBaby uses the advanced AXP® II automated processing system that has received the FDA clearance, and complies with current good tissue practices (cGTP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP). Globally, the system has already processed over a million cord blood units to date. Designed to provide high-quality stem cell concentration from cord blood, the AXP® II system has demonstrated viable CD34+ stem cell recovery of more than 97%16 that is higher than most other known available systems. It is also a functionally closed processing system which ensures the sterility of the cord blood by eliminating exposure to air contaminants16

Since the success rate of transplantation is determined by stem cells' number and viability, therefore HealthBaby introduces AXP® II to maximize the extract of most stem cells.

Processing system of other private cord blood bank:

  • The claim of Sepax® ability to extract 99.46% TNC lacks of objectivity since the data is from the cord blood bank's own experiment but not a objective third party. But according to the third parties, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the largest Cord Blood Bank of U.S. (Cord Blood Registry), Sepax® can only extracts 80.3% of TNC but not 99.46%. Beware amd do not be misled. In addition, only MNC but not TNC should be the transplant sample during transplantation27.
  • Not the only automatic cord blood processing system round the globe.

For more details of AXP®II please refer to AXP®II Automated Processing System.

How do international accreditation guarantee customers?

International accreditations serve as an important benchmark for a cord blood bank's quality. Thus, HealthBaby Group is strived to attain the most international professional accreditations to provide high quality services. Our techniques, quality and storage service met up with the stringent standard of authoritative organizations38.

Apart from fundamental AABB accreditation, HealthBaby is the FIRST and ONLY private cord blood laboratory in Hong Kong obtained CAP and FACT accreditations.

For more details of HealthBaby international accreditations please refer to Most Professional Accreditations Cord Blood Bank in Hong Kong.

How does the exclusive umbilical cord technology protect clients' rights?

HealthBaby attained H.K. Patented technology which exclusively extracting the whole cord tissue as well as the unique processing, storage and culture technologies can fully enhance the quantity and viability of tissue cells after thawing. Experiments showed that various tissue cells (adipocytes, chondrocytes and vascular endothelial cells) can be differentiated from the cord tissue processed by HealthBaby patented technology. The cell colony number derived was over 20 fold of that derived from non-minced cord tissue segment.

Contract specifies HealthBaby exclusive umbilical cord technology can culture MSCs from umbilical cord tissue, safeguarding our clients.

Remember to be aware whether other cord blood banks have patented technology for processing cord tissue. The quality and guaranty of such services are questionable.

More Questions?

Contact us through any method below:

Hotline: (+852)3188-8899 / (+853)2878-6717
WhatsApp: (+852)9660-8271 or Click Here
WeChat: HealthBaby 生寶臍帶血庫
Online: Click here to submit the enquiry online
Email: enquiry@healthbaby.hk