When it comes to cord blood preservation, the focus often shifts solely to the final stage: the freezing of the sample. But what truly makes a difference happens much earlier: the PROCESSING of the biological material (blood, cord, and placenta).
It is during this phase that the sample is processed, tested, and prepared for cryopreservation.
The future quality of the cells, and thus their actual clinical usability, depends precisely on this KEY phase. SSCB is the only Swiss company that guarantees processing and storage are done in Switzerland in compliance with FACT-NetCord standards and authorized by Swissmedic, unlike our main competitors who process the sample abroad.
For a comparison between SSCB and the competitors/distributors of foreign companies, see the comparison table available on this page.
International specific standard for cord blood (accreditation held by SSCB)
Standard generic used by foreign laboratories that our competitors rely on, who do not process in Switzerland as they are distributors of products from foreign companies.
PROCESSING is a critical and active phase, requiring controlled environments, highly qualified personnel, and strict protocols.
CRYOPRESERVATION, on the other hand, is a passive phase: it only works if the processing has been done correctly.
Swiss Stem Cells Biotech (SSCB) is the only private biobank in Switzerland that manages the entire process – from processing to cryopreservation – in its own laboratories in Switzerland, accredited by FACT–NetCord for cord blood, and GMP certified for cord tissue and placenta.
Why Choose Swiss Stem Cells Biotech?
Many companies present themselves as “Swiss” but do not have their own laboratories in the country. For this reason:
We have been active for over 20 years and we offer you:
I am just a local distributor of foreign groups.
Regarding the processing phases, unlike its main competitors, SSCB is regularly inspected by Swissmedic and every three years by independent auditors from FACT-NETCORD, ensuring absolute quality for all our clients.
SSCB is the only private biobank in Switzerland authorized to offer the hybrid banking model, thanks to its presence across the country and its certifications.
This is made possible by a pilot project approved by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and implemented in partnership with:
– Swiss Blood Stem Cells of Transfusion (CRS) Switzerland
– Bern University Hospital
– Canton Hospital Authority Ticino EOC
If parents choose to donate, the stem cells will no longer be available to the family. In case of need, they must consult the public registry to check the availability of compatible cells.
A choice that protects the family: the stored cells are reserved exclusively for the child or their relatives, ensuring maximum safety for their health. While the service requires a financial contribution, it offers a valuable opportunity for the family's future.
The most complete option: stem cells are stored for family use but can be donated upon request. In the event of a transplant donation, the storage costs are reimbursed. A choice that combines family protection with solidarity, with the final decision always in the hands of the family.
specific requirements are needed (and we have them)
According to Swiss jurisprudence and the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the processing of cord tissue is subject to specific criteria:
SSCB is fully compliant with all these requirements. In our laboratories in Switzerland, we process and cryopreserve cord tissue according to the required standards, without any foreign outsourcing.
Appearance | SSCB – Swiss Stem Cells Biotech | Other operators present in Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
Processing | Takes place in Switzerland, in the GMP-certified SSCB-owned laboratories. | It takes place abroad, at the group’s laboratories or third-party facilities, not located in Switzerland. |
Initial cryopreservation | In Switzerland, right after processing | In foreign countries, then bulk reimportation to Switzerland. |
Final cryopreservation | Not necessary as at the end of the processing phase, the sample is immediately cryopreserved at the same facility. | In Switzerland (if applicable), after bulk transport of samples from abroad. |
Laboratories | Owned by SSCB, located in Switzerland, accredited by FACT–NetCord and authorized by Swissmedic. | No laboratories for production and processing in Switzerland, only facilities for cryopreservation. |
Declared standards | FACT–NetCord, GMP, Swissmedic compliance (SSCB undergoes periodic inspections) | Often only AABB (not specific to cord blood) and in some cases unspecified in the contracts. |
Sample traceability | Total and direct, the biological material arrives from the delivery room without intermediate steps directly to our laboratories where it will be processed and cryopreserved. | Several steps – from the delivery room, the biological material is transported abroad for processing and managed according to applicable local laws. Only afterwards is it transported in bulk to Switzerland (if applicable). |
Transport of biological material (blood, cord tissue, placenta) | Dedicated to every single client and within Switzerland: from the delivery room directly to the SSCB laboratories. | Biological material is transported from the delivery room abroad for processing and initial cryopreservation. Only later is it imported in bulk to Switzerland for final storage, with transportation terms not always clearly defined in the contracts. |
Contractual transparency | Clear contracts: they indicate where processing and cryopreservation take place, with reference to standards and laboratories. | Often, contracts only mention cryopreservation in Switzerland, omitting the location of processing, which takes place abroad. The processing, according to AABB standards, is a critical and active phase, and considering only cryopreservation is misleading since it is a passive process of simple storage. |
Data protection | Exclusive treatment in Switzerland, in accordance with the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) | Personal data travels with the biological sample abroad and is also processed in other countries: while the Swiss DPA remains formally applicable, local regulations that are not always mentioned in contracts may also apply, potentially leading to issues concerning the DPA and GDPR. |
Hybrid banking model | Already available at Inselspital and EOC, only with SSCB upon approval from UFSP and Swiss Cord. | Not available |
Experience and history | Over 20 years of operation in Switzerland, thousands of families served. | Often recent local operators or branches of foreign groups that act as distributors. |
Disposal of excess biological material | Management entirely in Switzerland, processes tracked and verified by Swissmedic | Foreign local regulations and procedures, often not defined in contracts |
During your first consultation with customer care, ask where the biological material (cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta) is transported immediately after birth, where the processing takes place and under what laws, whether the sample is cryopreserved immediately in Switzerland or first abroad, what risks are involved in transporting it from abroad to Switzerland, how and within what timeframe this occurs, whether the transport is dedicated or bulk, what happens to the waste biological material, where your personal data ends up, and what guarantees cover each phase. Then, make sure that this information is clearly stated in the contract as well. We always do this: ensure that others do the same.
Would you like to learn more or speak with one of our consultants?
Certified Swiss Biotech company a leader in stem cell preservation.
