These cells can replace and regenerate damaged or diseased bone marrow, treat blood cancers and correct genetic defects (sibling/allogeneic transplantation).

Immediately after the delivery, the umbilical cord is clamped and the baby separated from the cord and moved from the birthing area. The doctor then collects the umbilical Cord Blood by inserting a needle into the cord vein and drains the blood into a blood bag. This procedure is painless and risk-free.

Step 1. Clamping and cutting the cord
The umbilical cord is cut and clamped.
Step 2. Collection of Cord Blood
The Cord Blood is collected by inserting a fine needle inside the cord vein.
Step 3. Securely packing the Cord Blood
The blood is drained and secured into a blood bag which is then transferred to a lab within 24 hours.
Step 4. Evaluation of the sample’s quality
A series of tests are performed to check the quality and integrity of the sample.
Step 5. Extraction of the Stem cells
Cord Blood is sieved with our patented technologies to yield the maximum number of stem cells.
Step 6. Storing the Stem cells
The filtered stem cells are stored at -196°c for up to 21 years.

At Vowels, we provide the below mentioned services:

• Qualified counsellors to give the right information
  
• Specimen collections done by trained paramedics
  
• 24×7 specimen collection and processing
  
• Free worldwide shipment during transplant
  
• Comprehensive lab reports
  
• Quality assurance program
  
• Client care program

Collection kit
After the enrolment, a collection kit is sent to your doorstep.

Sample collection
The planning and collection of your baby’s umbilical Cord Blood is organised beforehand by Vowels 196.

Transport
Safe transportation of your sample to our lab is facilitated by our trusted logistics partner.

Testing & processing
Your samples are tested and processed by specialists in our lab.

Preservation
Extracted stem cells are preserved and after which a certificate is dispatched to you.

Counseling
We try to understand your history & needs following which we explain the process, benefits, plans & procedure that suit you.

Registration
We’ll assist you with the paperwork & sign-in formalities. Followed by the payment you will receive an email with your unique ID & E-Receipt.

Welcome Call
Our CRM Team will get in touch with you to assist you through the next step and then dispatch the collection kit.

Our 196 Collection Kit
You will receive the collection kit a month prior to the estimated due date. Our team will brief you on the contents & their usage.

Delivery & Sample Collection
Based on the briefing, when you bring in the kit to the hospital for the collection to happen during the delivery. Our executive will collect the retrieved sample from the hospital & ship it safely to our lab.

Processing
Once the kit is received in the lab where it is processed in a completely sterile, Class 1000 clean room, in Class 100 Biosafety Cabinet.

Preservation
You will receive a detailed report & a certificate of preservation within 20 days after the collection.

Currently, they are used to treat 80+ life-threatening medical conditions as the Cord Blood stem cells have high regenerative properties & the ability to transform into blood cells, brain cells, muscle cells, bone cells etc.
By storing the precious Cord Blood of your baby with Vowels, you can now protect not just the baby but the entire family including parents, siblings, maternal & paternal grandparents for a lifetime.

One, among many, benefits of using Cord Blood stem cells is that the collection process is simple and non-invasive. There is absolutely no pain or risk to the mother or child.

As a result of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into different cell types, stem cells have found applications in the treatment of various diseases. Currently, Cord Blood stem cells are being successfully used and studied for further applications in the following areas.
Tissue Regeneration: Stem cells can repair and restoration damaged tissues or organs in case of severe injuries and chronic diseases.

Disease Treatment: These remarkable stem cells have the potential to treat various medical conditions including forms of blood cancers as well as various genetic, immune, and metabolic disorders. For instance, the FDA has approved the treatment of over 80 diseases using Cord Blood stem cells. With ongoing research and developments in the field of stem cells, treatment of various debilitating ailments shows promising results.

All humans carry a set of genes that code for these proteins, called the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA). A person’s HLA complex is genetically inherited from their parents (50% from each parent). There are 6 HLA types that are important for stem cell transplants. As each person’s HLA complex is relatively unique, it is essential that the HLA-type of the donor matches the recipient in order to prevent a post-transplant immune response and graft rejection.

Umbilical Cord Blood is one of the richest sources of stem cells found in nature. While Cord Blood stem cells are not embryonic, they are more pristine than the stem cells in adults, because they are younger and they have had less exposure to illness or environmental factors.

Most of the stem cells in Cord Blood are blood-forming stem cells, also known as “Hematopoietic Progenitor Stem Cells” or HPC. The presence of HPC is what enables Cord Blood transplants to be used as a substitute for bone marrow transplants.

Over 80 treatable diseases with Cord Blood have been treated with standard medical care, although many of these are rare disorders. Clinical trials with Cord Blood are developing therapies for more common childhood disorders. Cord Blood can be donated to public banks for patients seeking donors, or stored in family banks for future use by the baby’s family. Vowels 196 offers both public & private privilege banking plans for the customers.

Cord Blood can be collected using In-Utero or Ex-Utero techniques. There is absolutely no pain or risk to the mother or child. Once the umbilical cord is clamped, it is wiped with antiseptic and a blood bag tubing needle is inserted into the vein in the umbilical cord to withdraw maximum volume of blood & secured blood bag will be safely transferred to insulated container/kit and transported to lab.

The procedure can be performed manually through current patented technologies (Bag method) by trained technicians. Processed Cord Blood stem cells will be stored cryogenically in liquid nitrogen tank in vapour phase; frozen Cord Blood can be stored for decades and still be a viable source of stem cells for therapy. Sample quality will be evaluated through testing’s parameters which are offered by Vowels 196 to check quality & integrity of samples.

Yes, our Lab will be functional for 24×7 & 365 days in a year.

The total nucleated cell count or TNC is the test most often reported as a measure of the cell count after Cord Blood processing. The main advantage of measuring TNC is that the count is highly reproducible; the TNC count can be automated with the use of a device called a flow cytometer & coulter.

Stem cells happen to be mono-nuclear cells or MNC; when you look at them under a microscope there is only one nucleus there are other types of blood cells which are also MNC, such as nucleated red blood cells.

The best known marker for blood-forming stem cells is that they test positive for CD34, a protein found on the surface of stem cells. MNC that have CD34+ are actually stem cells.

The term “HLA” is short for human leukocyte antigens, and these are proteins in the immune system that determine whether a patient will react against a donor transplant. Donors and patients’ blood are matched by their HLA type before transplant, there are 6 HLA types that are important for stem cell transplants: in a bone marrow transplant the patient and donor must match at all 6 (100% match), whereas a Cord Blood transplant is just as effective at curing patients with only a 4 out of 6 match (67% match) between donor and patient.

At present colony forming units or CFU are considered to be the best measure of whether stem cells are “viable”, or quite frankly alive. The TNC count includes both living and dead cells. In the CFU test a small portion is watched under controlled conditions to see if stem cells divide and form colonies. This used to be a subjective measure that has been standardized with technology to image the cells and count colonies in the image.