Company and Laboratory
Company Profile
Netcells Cryogenics is a privately owned South African stem cell bank, which was set-up by Netcare Limited (www.netcare.co.za), the largest hospital group in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Netcells is officially accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (Membership number: 1067030). This gives our clients assurance that we process and store according to international standards and that cells released by our laboratory will be accepted by transplant centres across the world.
Netcells has had a partnership with Smart Cells International (www.smartcells.com), the longest established stem cell bank in the United Kingdom, since 2005. The technologies employed by Netcells and Smart Cells are identical and in the unlikely event that Netcells ceases to exist for whatever reason, Smart Cells will ensure the future on-going storage of Netcells’ stem cells.
Netcells Laboratory
Netcells has a state-of-the-art laboratory with a Class 100,000 Clean Room processing facility, situated in Midrand, Gauteng.
Netcells processed and stored it first cord blood sample on 21 December 2006 and has stored for over 5,000 clients in South Africa.
Netcells also processes adult peripheral blood stem cells for leading South African Haematologists and Oncologists and has to-date successfully thawed over 150 units which have successfully engrafted. Most of these have been for South Africa’s largest stem cell transplant unit at Netcare’s Pretoria East Hospital.
Netcells stored its first cord tissue in May 2010. Cord tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells and these are being employed in both research and clinical environments for a variety of aesthetic and medical conditions.
In March 2011, Netcells launched adult adipose (fat) tissue stem cell banking. Adult adipose tissue contains a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells which are easily expandable. Using cutting-edge Intellectual Property, these stem cells have been used in therapeutic applications for skin regeneration (anti-ageing, wound healing and burns, scar remodelling, and pigmentation disorders) with encouraging results.
Netcells laboratory has developed its own specialised in house Flow Cytometry testing, to count the number of stem cells collected and to ensure that they are in fact viable for storage. We have strict limits in place for storage and will advise you whether the cells have been successfully stored or whether it is advisable not to store. In case of the latter, you will not be liable to pay the Processing and Storage Fee.
Our premises are situated in a secure area, with security guards, which are camera monitored and alarm protected. Access to the cryogenic tank storage area is protected by fingerprint access control.
Our premises are electronically monitored by a specialised Facility Monitoring System which continually checks and measures our equipment and storage tanks. Should anything fall outside of its designated range, then Netcells’ Management is informed by sms, so that immediate action can be taken.
Netcells has uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to address electricity spikes and a back-up generator in the event of a power failure.
We are the only stem cell laboratory in Africa to have installed a sophisticated Fire Detection and Suppression System. If a change in air particles is detected and verified, then the system automatically dumps FM200 gas. This virtually eliminates the risk of our stored stem cells ever being destroyed by a fire.
We have back-up processing equipment, should any of our equipment malfunction. Smart Cells International is Netcells off-site back-up processing laboratory in the case of an unforeseen disaster. We can get any newborn cells to Smart Cells overnight for processing and temporary storage.
All stem cell units are bar-coded to ensure traceability at all times.
We operate on a totally transparent basis and you are therefore more than welcome to come and visit our laboratory at any time and see our operations for yourself.
In this regard, Netcells is compliant with the PAIA (Promotion of Access to Information) Act.