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Viacord is Heparin Free

Rest Assured, ViaCord is HEPARIN FREE.

ViaCord’s FDA-approved cord blood collection bag uses an anti-coagulant called Citrate Phosphate Dextrose – known as CPD.

Know the advantages of using CPD:

  • CPD is approved by the FDA for cord blood collection. Heparin is NOT!
  • CPD does “double duty”; it acts as an anticoagulant & a cell preservative. Heparin does NOT!
  • CPD is free of animal by-products. Heparin is NOT!

What the experts are saying about CPD and Heparin:

Heparin lacks the preservative needed to maintain viability of cells.

“During collection of cord blood, we recommend that you use an appropriate closed, sterile container sealed in a manner that prevents cell loss and contamination. We recommend that you use only citrate-based anticoagulants.”

U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, October 2009*

CPD is less toxic to stem cells than Heparin

“Heparin was tested as an anti-coagulant early on, but CPD has been identified as the anti-coagulant with the lowest toxicity to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.”

Joanne Kurtzberg, Chapter 57: Neoplastic Diseases of the Blood, 4th Edition, 2003

Heparin’s effectiveness breaks down after 12 hours.

“Heparin, which does not contain dextrose to preserve cell metabolism, is rarely used as an anti-coagulant for blood collection, as it can only be useful for blood that is to be transfused within 12 hours of collection because it is broken down over longer periods of time."

A.V. Hoffbrand, Daniel Catvosky, Edward G.D. Tuddenham, Postgraduate Hematology, Edition 5, 2005

Heparin negatively impacts accuracy of HLA typing.

“Heparin as an anti-coagulant is not advised as it has been associated with failure of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques such as those used in Molecular HLA typing.“

Eliane Gluckman, Pablo Rubenstein, et al., Cord Blood Characteristics: Role in Stem Cell Transplantation, 2000


You can trust in ViaCord’s proven history of

delivering safe and effective cord blood units for treatment.





*U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Guidance for Industry – Minimally Maninpulated, Unrelated Allogeneic Placental/Umbilical Cord Blood Intended for Hemapoietic Reconstitution for Specified Indications, October 2009

 
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