Cord Blood Collection
12/Jul/2007
The collection of Cord Blood without cost has been reinstated as at the 1 st June 2007.
BioCell Pty. Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Australian Unity for this to continue.
This is great news for CF families who are interested in this collection and the possibilities that may emerge in the future for their CF child or children.
We would like to thank Australian Unity and BioCell for their generous financial commitment to have the collection and storage of the Cord Blood of the newborn from the consenting CF families Nationally.
I realise that some of the State officers have advised some of their members that this was not available as a free service, this is now the case so please advise your members accordingly.
In the first instance, the family should speak to their CF Clinician, then to their obstetrician, following their decision then contact their respective State CF office and the State CF office to advise CFA and CFA will then contact BioCell. If this communication loop is maintained we then should have a trouble free opportunity of gaining media attention.
CFA via Ann Maree, will keep a confidential register of the family's name, contact details,the approx. date of the new born, and if they agree to any media involvement.
We must follow the communication trail as stated above to gain the media attention that this new opportunity may bring to CF families.
If CF families do not wish to be involved with media then that is their decision and we will honor that decision, but we still need to have the names for the National Register.
Many thanks in advance,
Terry Stewart
CEO Cystic Fibrosis Australia
