Options for Parents

Important Information for Parents Wishing to Donate

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Many criteria are examined to determine acceptance to the program. Both Mother and Father must complete all forms.

• Birth mothers must never have tested positive for HIV or be a Hepatitis B or C carrier
• Birth mothers must be > 18 years of age
• Must register prior to 34 weeks gestation
• Singleton birth – no twins/ triplets can be accepted
• Health and risk restrictions are set by the AABB/ World public banking standards:
  • Review of health, obstetrical, and genetic history
  • Review of previous travel destinations
  • No tattoo, accupuncture or piercing in last 12 months
  • No treatment for sexually transmissible disease in last 12 months
• Birthing Centre Location – parents giving birth in selected Southern Ontario Cities only*
• Health professional cooperation
• Current number of participants in the VAR program
• Willingness to meet the program guidelines
• Parents do not pay any fees for their participation in the public bank program. **
• Parents relinquish all ownership and rights to the cord blood.
• Not all donated cord blood samples will be stored; screening criteria set by the AABB must be followed and specific blood volumes/ cell counts are required. Those high-quality samples with higher numbers of stem cells will be stored for use in medical treatment. Typically in all public cord blood banks world-wide, the majority of samples are used in much-needed research projects.  Parents must understand that, in most cases, the cord blood will not be available to them in the future.
• Parents cannot choose to donate and store privately for one birth. There is only enough cord blood to do one or the other.
• If parents are not eligible for the program, they may decide to donate their cord blood to research or may want to investigate the option of family banking. Information will be provided upon request to CFL's website

* Hospitals serviced by our bedside pickup service include the following hospitals:  Ajax Pickering, Brantford General, Cambridge Memorial, Credit Valley, Georgetown, Grand River, Guelph General, Humber River (Church & Finch), Joseph Brant Burlington, Markham Stouffville, McMaster, Milton District, Mt. Sinai Toronto, North York General, Oakville Trafalgar, Scarborough Centenary/ General/ Grace, Southlake, St. Joseph’s Hamilton, St. Joseph’s Toronto, St. Michael’s Toronto, Toronto East General, Trillium Health Centre (Mississauga), William Osler (Brampton Civic & Etobicoke), Women’s College, York Central.

**All other locations: Parents are asked to have a friend or family member deliver the sample to the laboratory at Toronto General Hospital or pay the cost of shipping to help reduce the financial strain on the non-profit public bank. As funding is increased, this will not be required.

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VICTORIA ANGEL REGISTRY OF HOPE: HOW DOES IT WORK?

1. Prior to the 34th week of pregnancy, parents must complete a detailed Medical application. This is reviewed by our medical team and, if acceptable, the parents are accepted to the program. If not acceptable, parents may donate their cord blood directly to VAR’s research projects or parents may refer to information on family banking.
2. Accepted parents: Registered Nurses will review the program and the terms of the informed consent agreement with the birthing mother. Fathers are welcome to attend. This can be done by phone or in person.
3. Parents are asked to speak to their Health Care Professional prior to the baby’s birth to ensure the he/ she will collect the cord blood and maternal blood at no fee. Most doctors and midwives are agreeable.
4. Parents are provided with a collection kit at no charge.
5. The collection kit is taken to the birth. The health care professional collects the blood and completes the necessary paperwork. Fathers/ birth partners may be asked to package the cord blood. Video instructions are included with the kit. 
6. The cord blood and maternal blood is shipped back to the Cells for Life laboratory for processing within 24 – 40 hours.  * In some locations, parents are asked to share the cost of shipping to help reduce the financial strain on the public bank. As funding is increased, this will not be required.
7. Samples that meet required guidelines are processed to isolate the stem cells from the blood then frozen and stored. All other samples are submitted to research projects and/or discarded. 
8. Medical testing is completed on the sample itself and the birth mother’s maternal blood.
9. The parents of baby’s whose samples have been stored will be contacted 3 months after birth to review the baby’s health since birth.   
10. The cord blood sample information is made anonymous. All donor information is removed from the sample and the testing information. The HLA tissue type is entered into our inventory system for transplant physicians to access.

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Parent Choices

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Parent's Options

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Canada’s Public Cord Blood Banks

Unlike most other developed countries, Canada does not have a national public cord blood banking system.

Aside from the Quebec provincial government funding a public cord blood bank in Montreal, no other government funding has been available despite many requests and proposals from various organizations, including Victoria Angel Registry of Hope.

While many Canadian parents are unable to donate their baby’s cord blood to public banks, all Canadians can benefit from donated samples in two ways:

1. Cord blood samples stored in public banks can be used by all Canadians in need upon request from a transplant physician.
2. Researchers will use donated samples to develop new applications that will benefit everyone.

Funding is the limiting factor for Victoria Angel Registry of Hope. We are a non-profit organization. As we receive more funds, we will accept more donated samples for storage and research purposes. Our laboratory has the capacity to store 125,000 samples.

CANADA'S PUBLIC BANKS	Work with parents who meet specified requirements and deliver in the following serviced areas
Victoria Angel Registry of Hope *Parents who do not deliver at these hospitals may be considered only if shipping charges are not required. In these cases, parents are asked to have a friend or family member deliver the sample to the laboratory at Toronto General Hospital or pay the cost of shipping to help reduce the financial strain on the non-profit public bank.	Parents must deliver at the following hospitals*: Ajax Pickering Brantford General Cambridge Memorial Credit Valley Georgetown Grand River Guelph General Humber River (Church and Finch) Joseph Brant Burlington Lakeridge Oshawa General Markham Stouffville Mc Master Milton District Mt Sinai (Toronto) North York General Oakville Trafalgar Scarborough Centenary/ General/ Grace Southlake St Joseph’s Hamilton St Joseph’s Toronto St Michael’s Toronto Toronto East General Trillium Health Centre – Mississauga William Osler – Brampton Civic & Etobicoke Women’s College York Central
Héma-Québec	Works with parents who give birth at selected hospitals in Montreal and Quebec City – Contact Héma-Québec website directly for more information
Alberta Public Cord Blood Bank	Edmonton – Contact bank directly

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