FAQs

A stem cell is a cell that has 2 important characteristics: the ability to proliferate or self-renew, and to differentiate or transform into various types of body cells. Based on the types of stem cells, which can be embryonic stem cells, meaning they can turn into all body cells, or adult stem cells, which can differentiate into a specific lineage of cells such as blood, heart, nerve, and cartilage cells; these cells are classified accordingly. Stem cells exist in various body tissues and are effective in repairing body tissues after injury and trauma, and can replace damaged cells in injured tissues where most of their cells have been lost, helping to repair and correct defects in that tissue.

Umbilical cord blood is blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth and is discarded. This blood is rich in stem cells. Umbilical cord blood stem cells, like hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow, are divided into the following cells: Red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body White blood cells, which actively participate in the immune system Platelets, which help blood clot These cells are also capable of forming other cell types and repairing and maintaining cells during injury. Therefore, if these cells can be collected and stored, we will always have a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells. These cells can be used in diseases of blood origin and disorders of bone marrow activity and the immune system. Availability, reduced likelihood of transplant rejection, reduced risk of contamination, and the chance of finding a genetically matched sample are among the most important aspects of umbilical cord blood storage.

Learn more by visiting the stem cells page.

In a private umbilical cord blood bank, sample storage is carried out at the applicant's request and upon payment of the relevant fees, and the blood sample remains the property of the contracting party.

In a public umbilical cord blood bank, the umbilical cord blood sample is donated by the family to the bank; therefore, storage is performed free of charge and becomes the property of the public cord blood bank.

• Ensuring there are no contract contraindications (the list of contract contraindications is available on the company's website).

• Contract signing.

• Payment of fees related to umbilical cord blood storage.

• Receiving the umbilical cord blood collection kit.

• Maternal blood collection for serology tests (at the time of delivery).

• Umbilical cord blood collection on the day of delivery.

• Umbilical cord blood processing.

• Umbilical cord blood stem cell storage.

• Issuance of freezing certificate.

• Annual fee payment.

The use of certain medications or the presence of some diseases at different stages of the mother's life will lead to contract contraindications.

For information on these cases, please refer to the contract contraindications section.

Maternal tests are performed on the blood sample taken from the mother simultaneously with the cellular processing of the umbilical cord blood sample. If necessary, additional tests may be required, which will be announced subsequently.

RPR, HBSAb, HBSAg, HCVAb Total, HBCAb Total, HIVI/II, CMVIgM, CMVIgG, HTLV I/II

For more information, please refer to the documents and examinations page.

Please refer to the storage and maintenance costs page.

1. Electronic registration is available through the company's website. (To start online registration, click here).
   • If you have any questions, please call 021-27635000.
2. For in-person registration, please visit a representative office. (A list of representative offices is available on the company's website).

All representative offices are located in provincial capitals and generally cover surrounding towns and cities. Otherwise, contract signing is possible directly with the Tehran representative office, and with necessary coordination, blood collection can be performed by operating room personnel or a physician.

No. 

The presence of either the father or mother (one parent) is mandatory for contract signing. If one parent cannot be present, the presence of a third party with a notarized power of attorney is required for contract signing.

Link to power of attorney text

• Trained blood collection specialists attend the operating room at the time of delivery and collect blood from the umbilical cord after the newborn's birth. The collected blood is handed over to the father or the mother's companion in a special kit.
• After receiving the kit, sample transport liaisons visit the hospital to receive the sample and transfer the blood sample to the blood bank under standard conditions.
• After initial quality control, the blood sample enters the processing laboratory. Umbilical cord blood stem cells, if they meet the necessary standards in terms of cell count, serology tests, and microbial tests performed on the umbilical cord blood, are stored.
• Stem cells are stored in special tanks at -196°C in liquid nitrogen.

 

• Received samples are immediately examined by quality control specialists upon arrival at the center. If initially confirmed, the samples proceed to the cell processing stage.
• After entering the cell processing laboratory, samples are evaluated for volume and cell count. If they meet the necessary standards, stem cells are temporarily frozen.
• Simultaneously with cell processing, viral and microbial tests are performed on the received blood samples; if these tests confirm the health of the blood sample, the stem cells are transferred to special liquid nitrogen tanks for long-term storage.

 

Due to the limited number of umbilical cord blood stem cells and the inability to proliferate cells, generally, each blood bag can be used only once. However, depending on the type of disease and the number of cells required, it is sometimes possible to use it multiple times.

Although there is a possibility of genetic matching between siblings and also between parents and children, it is recommended to consider storing umbilical cord blood for each child.

Based on scientific findings and considering samples stored in cord blood banks since their inception, it has been determined that samples can be used for up to 28 years according to current standards.

All samples are stored at -196°C in special tanks containing liquid nitrogen, and these tanks undergo continuous quality and technical review at specified times.

• Umbilical cord blood stem cells can only be used for the child whose sample was stored in certain diseases where blood cells are not damaged. Also, any other person who has the necessary genetic (HLA) match with the stored blood sample, and the cell count is appropriate for the patient's weight, can use this blood sample.
• The siblings of the sample owner have the highest chance of genetic (HLA) matching with the sample owner.

 

Given that the predominant cell in umbilical cord blood is the hematopoietic stem cell, diseases of hematopoietic origin such as various types of blood cancers, leukemia, thalassemia, congenital anemias, and some immune system deficiency diseases are currently treatable with these cells. With clinical trials now underway for neurological diseases such as cerebral palsy (CP) and autism, the hope for using these cells in other diseases has also increased.

Yes. So far, more than 30 transplants have been performed using samples stored in Royan Cord Blood Bank. (The list of transplants is available on the website) and also more than 150 children with cerebral palsy have undergone clinical trials using umbilical cord blood stem cells.

• Any of the contract contraindications as mentioned on the company's website.

• Insufficient umbilical cord blood volume and low stem cell count in the collected blood sample (reasons can include: physical condition of the placenta, gestational age, maternal age, type of nutrition, type of delivery, etc.).

• Positive serology test of the maternal blood sample and microbial contamination of the umbilical cord blood sample.

 

HLA testing is a genetic cell marker determination test. Genetic or HLA matching between the donor and recipient is essential during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The collected sample is stored in one to three bags depending on its cell count. In this case, the cost of the second and third bags and their fees will be charged separately.

After Royan Cord Blood Bank informs the family that the blood sample is in two bags and the family agrees to store it, the contracting party proceeds to sign the contract for the second bag and pays its cost separately.

After the child reaches three months of age, families can access their personal panel to complete the child health form, upload the child's birth certificate, and then receive their freezing certificate.

1. Visit the company's website: www.rsct.ir.
2. Select 'Customer Login' from the electronic registration section.
3. Complete the requested information and log in to your personal panel.
4. Select 'Child Health Form' and complete it, then upload the child's birth certificate PDF file.
5. Obtain the freezing certificate from the 'Freezing Certificate Issuance' section.

 

Yes. After the child reaches three months of age, and upon completion of the child's health status form and uploading the child's birth certificate, a freezing certificate will be issued.

Method 1: Electronically

• Select Electronic Registration - Customer Login.

• Enter the father's national ID and password.

• Select 'Child Health Form,' complete it, and upload the child's birth certificate PDF file.

• Finally, obtain the freezing certificate from the 'Freezing Certificate' section.

Method 2: Via email or fax

• Email or fax the completed child health form and child's birth certificate by the family to Royan Stem Cell Technology Company to receive the freezing certificate.

Method 3: In-person visit

Visit the representative office to provide a copy of the child's birth certificate, complete the child health form, and receive the freezing certificate. 

• Insufficient umbilical cord blood volume and low stem cell count in the collected blood sample (reasons can include: physical condition of the placenta, gestational age, maternal age, type of nutrition, type of delivery, etc.).

• Microbial contamination, which has a 3 to 5 percent chance of occurring.

• The blood sample stored in the cord blood bank will be made available to transplant centers within the country whenever needed and requested by the treating physician.

Contract and fee payments can be made by the following methods:

• Payment through the company's website.

• In-person payment at representative offices via POS devices.

Annual fee payment is only possible through the company's website. To do this, you need your contract number and portal login password. The customer's contract number is listed on the contract form. If you have forgotten your portal password, you can use the 'forgot password' option or contact the company's customer relations colleagues.

Three weeks after the newborn's birth, contact the company and state the name of the desired insurance to receive your letter.

• The contracting party with the company is the child's father. If the father is not alive, the child's guardian will be considered the contracting party with the company.

• If the parents are separated and the mother has custody of the child, or in cases where the child's mother has a notarized power of attorney for decision-making, she is recognized as the contracting party.

• After the child reaches legal age (18 years old), they will be the final decision-maker.

Sample shipment is subject to the regulations of the destination country. If the destination country's cord blood bank has no restrictions on receiving and storing this blood sample, the blood sample can be transferred. However, all matters related to the transfer will be handled by the contracting party.

Currently, it is not possible to sell samples. However, if the sample is donated for transplant with the contracting party's consent, all paid fees will be refunded to the contracting party.

An annual fee reminder SMS will be sent to the contracting party, and if the family does not respond after several reminders and fails to pay the annual fee, the contract will be terminated.