• Enter your details on our website
• Choose which of our storage partners you would like to hear from using our easy comparative tool
• Discuss storage details with them and receive your parent agreement
• Sign and return you agreement.
• Following receipt of your agreement, pay your deposit (usually £195). This will cover the cost of your collection kit
• Your collection kit will be dispatched. All parts of the kit will be labelled with a unique reference number
• You’ll have a call with your phlebotomist who will go through your birth plan and ask you some questions on your pregnancy health.

• Take your kit with you to the hospital. Call your phlebotomist when your labour is commencing and keep them informed throughout the stages (usually your partner will do this)
• After birth, the cord samples and maternal blood are collected by your phlebotomist, who will complete and sign the kit
• Call to request collection as soon as it’s convenient (the earlier the better). Your bank will then arrange for a courier to collect your kit and will let you know once the samples arrive safely
• Processing of your stem cells – See Processing & Storage
• Afterprocessing your baby’s cord blood you’ll get the cell count results
• Upon successful storage you’ll be sent a certificate
• It is now that you will need to pay the remainder of the processing fee and annual storage plans begin

On very rare occasions a sample is found not to be suitable for storage after processing. This can occur if there are not enough stem cells in the sample for transplant. In this case you will only be charged an administration and phlebotomist fee to cover costs. Bear in mind you can still store your cord tissue even if the blood is not viable.

Maternal (Mother’s) Blood will need to be collected prior to or after the birth. This blood is tested for a range of infections and conditions. If the maternal blood is found to be contaminated we are unable to offer storage and the same fees as above will apply.