Guideline
Go2 Clinic Ltd (G2C) offers a second to none umbilical cord blood collection service.
| Cord Blood Collection Service |
We have been instructed by your cell bank as providing a customer focused service, with the sole aim of a simple and stress-free collection of your baby’s umbilical cord blood, and are therefore the UK provider of procurement services for this international organisation. Peace of mind is unique to G2C. This is achieved through the allocation of two healthcare professionals for the procurement of your sample (a primary and backup contact). A phlebotomist will be available to you at any time, and should they be called to another labour there is already a backup familiar with your case available. In addition, we provide a 24-hour number for additional security. (020 3633 2603) We understand the importance of your baby’s cord blood collection. Often this is a decision that is made due to an existing history or diagnosis in the family. Therefore, we honour this with our commitment to collecting the cord blood sample on your behalf. Our phlebotomists are licensed to collect umbilical cord blood through a 3rd Party Agreement with your cell bank as required by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) Guidelines. All our staff have undergone specialist training approved by the HTA and the National Association of Phlebotomists specifically for cord blood collection. G2C personnel are fully compliant with the NHS guidelines for the recruitment of staff, meaning they are unlikely to be refused entry to maternity units based on our rigorous Recruitment and selection criteria. We have successfully performed collections in hospitals that normally prevent cord blood collection (however this is not guaranteed in every circumstance).
G2C personnel are fully compliant with the NHS guidelines for the recruitment of staff, meaning they are unlikely to be refused entry to maternity units based on our rigorous
recruitment and selection criteria. We have successfully performed collections in hospitals that normally prevent cord blood collection (however this is not guaranteed in every circumstance).
Birth Choices
Every birth is unique and we recognise this at G2C. Our role is to provide you with advice that will enable the best chance of collecting a good volume of umbilical cord blood, which
increases the likelihood of storing a high concentration of stem cells.
During your pregnancy you will make many choices on how you would like your baby to be delivered. Our phlebotomists routinely perform collections both in hospitals and at home births.
Cord blood may be collected if you delivery your baby naturally or via caesarean section as long as it is safe to do so and your hospital/consultant/midwife consents to our input.
The 3rd stage of labour is when the placenta is delivered. You may opt for a “managed 3rd stage” which means you will be given an injection which causes the womb to contract down and delivers the placenta quickly after the birth of your baby. A managed 3rd stage
reduces the time before cord blood can be collected and therefore gives our phlebotomists the best chance of success. A “physiological 3rd stage” means that the body is allowed to expel
the placenta naturally. Your midwife will clamp the umbilical cord at the baby side and may cut the cord without clamping the other side. This means that any blood in the umbilical cord will be lost immediately resulting in a low volume collection. The mother is the only person who can ask the midwife to double clamp the cord to prevent loss of the umbilical cord blood. Our phlebotomists can instruct the midwifery team, but the midwives are not obliged
to fulfil these requests. Therefore if you plan a physiological 3rd stage we ask that you request the midwife to double clamp the cord and not remove this clamp.
Our phlebotomists are familiar with in utero collection of umbilical cord blood. This means the blood is collected before the placenta is delivered. In the UK this is normally only allowed under the following circumstances:
• There is a specific medical reason for the cord blood collection.
• It is the wish of the mother to have an in utero collection and the obstetrician/midwife consents.
• The placenta is retained and the sample may be lost if this technique is not performed.
• The cord becomes damaged on delivery and the midwife invites the phlebotomist to collect in utero.
The Referral Process
- YOUR ALLOCATED PHLEBOTOMISTS’ DETAILS WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY EMAIL
- YOU WILL BE CONTACTED BY A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM WITHIN 24 HOURS OF SENDING YOU THE ABOVE EMAIL
- YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SAVE THE PHONE NUMBERS OF YOUR PHLEBOTOMISTS IN YOUR PHONES
- FOR VAGINAL DELIVERIES, AS SOON AS YOUR CONTRACTIONS START YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR PRIMARY PHLEBOTOMIST
- ONCE AT THE HOSPITAL, YOUR MIDWIFE MAY EXAMINE YOU EVERY 4 HOURS TO UPDATE YOU WITH THE PROGRESS OF LABOUR. YOU MUST KINDLY PASS THIS INFORMATION EACH TIME TO YOUR PRIMARY PHLEBOTOMIST
- FOR PLANNED OR EMERGENCY C-SECTIONS PLEASE INFORM YOUR PHLEBOTOMISTS THE CONFIRM DATE AND TIME BY TEXT/CALL
- IN CASE YOUR PRIMARY PHLEBOTOMIST DOES NOT RESPOND TO YOUR CALL OR TEXT WITHIN 5 MINUTES PLEASE CONTACT YOUR BACK UP
- IN CASE NEITHER OF YOUR PHLEBOTOMISTS RESPOND TO YOU PLEASE USE THE EMERGENCY (OUT-OF-HOUR-NUMBER)
- DURING THE COLLECTION OUR PHLEBOTOMIST MAY TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PLACENTA FOR THE PURPOSE OF THEIR REPORTS
This is a guideline for the referral process and communication with your phlebotomist. Please be aware that particularly in London, phlebotomists may be travelling on the underground and will lose mobile phone contact during this time.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL OUT OF HOURS NUMBER: 020 3633 2603