Cells4Life

Brilliant service helping us to store cord blood cells for our baby boy Malcolm. Couldn't be happier with how everything went.

After much research in the area of stem cells and cord blood banking and placenta storage with a view to safeguard the health of my family after both my parents died with terminal illness, I decided to arrange the services at the birth of my baby with a company called: Cells 4 Life (Cells4Life). I live in Scotland (Aberdeen) and although Cells 4 Life are based in England, they had assured me that a phlebotomist near my area would attend on the day that I was to give birth to arrange collection of the cells from my babies placenta. Cells for Life claim to be experts in Stem Cell Processing. The Cells4Life website claim to be The UKs leading and largest stem cell bank, having developed everything from their systems and processes, to the range of services that they offer, and even the way in which they store your babys umbilical cord blood, to ensure that your child has the best chance for a healthy future. Cells4Life also claim to capture and store every single stem cell in your childs cord blood. This is really important as the number of cells in a sample can affect how successful a stem cell treatment is. The more stem cells that you can capture for your child, the better the protection for their health in the future. I researched Cells 4 Life in Full and could not find any reviews on their services but the Cells4Life website and the discussion on the telephone with the Cells4Life team member assured me that they are the leading provider of the cells storage, providing protection for my unborn child as well as their siblings and my husband and I. I immediately paid £495 deposit which was to cover the Cells4Life Deposit and Processing fee and was subsequently sent a further invoice for £2025 which was due to be paid after the birth. A few days later I was contacted by Phlebotomy UK, (Cells4Life had arranged for them to collect the cord blood from me on the day of the birth).( Phlebotomy UK also claim to be Specialists in the procurement of umbilical cord blood & tissue.) They had advised that the closest phlebotomist was based in Glasgow which is 2 hours and 35 minutes drive away. I was assured that if I called her as soon as labour started she would start her journey and stay at the hospital until I gave birth to obtain the blood and cells. My husband and I carefully followed the protocol and contacted the phlebotomist when we arrived at hospital. It was however around 16 hours later that I actually gave birth to my baby. The phlebotomist (who I was later advised had been waiting in the reception, revising for her exams to become a GP) and was clearly exhausted from such a long wait entered the delivery room the moment our child was born. She asked the midwife where is the placenta and midwife advises that she is about to deliver it, The phlebotomist commences the removal of blood from cord, cuts sample of cord which was performed in utero. I was very confused at this stage because it was my understanding that the procedure would take place once the placenta had actually been delivered and not whilst it was still inside my body yet she was doing this procedure whilst I was at the 3rrd stage of labour and in the process of delivering the placenta. Once she had collected the blood and tissues she took a sample of blood from my arm whilst the midwife delivered the placenta and she left. My husband immediately called the cells4life designated courier to come and collect the sample, we were advised that he was traveling 3 hours to us from Edinburgh, we had to call him a few times as we were anxious about the time that he was taking to collect the kit. A few days later I receive a letter from cells for life advising that they had managed to obtain just 1ml of viable blood (Yes 1ml) and this accompanied a bill for £2025 I received a call from Tony at Cells4Life and explained my concerns, He had advised that he would contact Phlebotomy UK. I was also advised that situations wherby an outcome of such a small amount of viable blood would be in situations wherby an in utero collection had taken place. I broke down in tears. This unqualified phlebotomist who took it upon herself to perform the collection prior to the placenta being delivered WITHOUT explaining any implications of this was completely responsible for this outcome. I wrote a letter to Cells4life explaining my circumstances and they responded in a highly unsympathetic manner claiming that the Phlebotomist had performed the collection in Utero because there was a delay in delivery. I had advised that this is not the case because my 3rd stage labour duration was only 20 mins thus no delay and that I had my medical notes confirming this. They then claimed that it was performed in utero because the placenta was breaking up?... again this is not the case because my medical notes clearly state that placenta was delivered complete and that there were no post labour complications. Tony at Cells4life advised that he would speak directly to management at Phlebotomy Uk. After a 12 day delay and no response from Cells4Life I contacted them requesting a response. In absence of any apology or explanation I have now received a demand for payment for the 25 year storage of the 1ml of blood (Which isnt enough for even 1 treatment) The undated letter from cells4life advises that they will issue legal proceedings if I dont pay within 7 days. I look forward to receiving the court papers as I fully intend to counterclaim damages for the immense distress and inconvenience caused to me and my family I will of course update here the outcome of the court case with Cells4Life and hope that no other person has to deal with this. This review is regarding my dealing with Cells 4 Life: Cells4Life Group LLP Units 2-3 Oak House Woodlands Office Park Albert Drive Burgess Hill RH15 9TN United Kingdom