Global Stem Cell Network Expands in Middle East

Two cord blood banks are to be installed in Turkey, expanding a network of systems deployed in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. One will be installed at Aegean University Faculty of Medicine and one at the Mediterranean University Faulty of Medicine. The blood will be used for the cryopreservation of therapeutic units of cord blood stem cells for the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, and inherited anemia and other genetic diseases.

The blood banks are using the BioArchive system of ThermoGenesis Corp. (Rancho Cordova, CA, USA), which employs a computer-driven robotic system to archive up to 3,626 units in –196oC liquid nitrogen. The system is used by banks to freeze, track identification, and perform robotic storage and retrieval of each unit. Samples can be placed, frozen, and retrieved without being exposed to detrimental transient warming events, which can reduce cell viability. The BioArchive system also has potential application for archiving and storing other kinds of biologic specimens, such as stem cells, dendritic cells, T-cells, and biopsy samples.

"Turkey represents the 23rd country in which the major cord blood banks have acquired the BioArchive system as we continue to see its adoption as the standard for cord blood banking customers worldwide,” said Kevin Simpson, president and COO of ThermoGenesis Corp. The company estimates that more than 70% of cord blood stem cell transplants performed to date have been supplied by cord blood banks using the BioArchive system.




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