Why are Accreditations Important for a Cord Blood Bank?

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Internationally accepted and recognized
accreditations are important for a cord blood
bank. Accreditations certify that the blood bank
has been appraised by authorized bodies for
competency, credibility, operational efficiency,
and quality management of processing and
cryopreservation protocols to ensure the safety
of the umbilical cord blood stem cells that are
being preserved. Accreditations are quality
checks to maintain standards.
In 2007, the Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
developed standards and guidelines for stem cell
research and cord blood banking in India. These
guidelines are based on the standards issued by
the American Association of Blood Banks, or AABB,
which is considered the standard for cord blood
banking globally.
Sourceepms.icmr.org.in
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Central Drugs Control Standard Organization
(CDSCO) under the Drugs Controller General of
India (DCGI) is responsible for issuing licenses
to cord blood banks in India. DCGI follows the
guidelines developed by the ICMR and DBT, in
agreement with AABB standards, to issue licenses
to cord blood banks in India..
Therefore, it is critical to ensure that the cord
blood bank of your choice, where you plan to
preserve your babys cord blood, is listed under
the DCGI. The government can crackdown on
unlicensed cord blood banks anytime and you may
lose valuable cord blood forever. 
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Why the AABB Accreditation is Important?
The AABB accreditation is designed to improve the
quality and safety of baby stem cell
collection and baby stem cell storage. The AABB
ensures safety in the collection, testing,
processing, and preserving of umbilical cord
blood. Once accredited, the establishment goes
through the accreditation process every two years.

• The AABB is an international voluntary non-profit
  organization.
• The AABB has been setting standards for public
  and private cord blood banks for over 20 years.
• The accreditation involves meticulous evaluation
  of the cord blood banks policies, processes, and
  procedures.

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• The AABB lists requirements for maternal
  screening and testing.
• It requires checks for proper processing,
  storage, and patient outcomes.
• Accreditations may be granted to a facility for
  several different activities including
  processing, testing, and storage.
• Accreditations can be also received for following
  proper donor testing protocols.
• The AABB accreditation follows a risk-solving
  approach and doesnt merely depend on a
  checklist.
• The AABB provides customized technical assistance
  to the cord blood bank during the accreditation
  process for smooth evaluation.
• The AABBs strict verification process focuses on
  minimizing any risk or health hazard to the
  donors and transplant patients.
• The AABB standards are revised every two years by
  eminent stem cell transplant physicians for the
  accuracy of the process.

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• Guidelines for Cord Blood Banks in India
• In India, there is a separate guideline for cord
  blood banks that complies with the AABB
  standards. Here, a cord blood bank needs a
  license to preserve and distribute cord blood.
  The guidelines outline the following
• The collection, testing, storage, and release
  requirements for umbilical cord blood.
• The specific building and room requirements. 
• The specific measures to minimize the risk of
  contamination from external factors.
• Mandatory screening requirements for certain
  infections including hepatitis, syphilis, and
  HIV.
• The regulation also requires the cord blood unit
  to test for fungal and bacterial contamination.
• To Conclude
• Cordlife has been both nationally and
  internationally accredited. So, As a parent,
  before select a cord blood bank of your choice
  that has received certain accreditations, we tell
  you why Cordlife, a brand known for its
  premium-ness should be your first and only choice.

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Source https//www.cordlifeindia.com/blog/why-are
-accreditations-important-for-cord-blood-bank/