According to Article 6, Paragraph 3 of the Terms and Conditions, if the applicant fails to pay the storage fee within one week after submitting the cord blood storage agreement, the storage contract is automatically canceled.

Upon expiration of the contract, storage may be extended in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Hucord will notify you of the upcoming expiration by phone, text message, or email starting two months prior to the expiration date. If extended, an additional storage fee (excluding initial processing and testing costs) will apply.

Yes. Whether cord blood can be used for transplantation depends on the physician's medical judgment, taking into account the patient's diagnosis, disease stage, and prognosis. Even for treatable diseases, usage may be declined based on medical discretion.

Hucord conducts HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 typing through DNA analysis methods.

Yes. Cryopreservation and thawing technology used for cord blood is highly stable and widely adopted in procedures such as egg, sperm, and embryo freezing. It enables long-term, semi-permanent storage.

Cord blood will not be stored at Hucord if the nucleated cell count is less than 8×10⁸ or if cell viability is below 80%.

No. Storage as donor cord blood is not allowed. According to Article 3 of the Enforcement Rules of the Act on Cord Blood Management and Research (enforced since July 2011), collection of cord blood is prohibited if the mother has infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, or syphilis.

Hucord is not currently accepting new cord blood for storage. Although current laws allow personal (family) storage of autologous cord blood, the likelihood of future use is extremely low. Moreover, it is not suitable for saving others’ lives under the current system. This conflicts with Hucord’s ethical business philosophy. Until the law is revised to promote public-benefit-based storage, we will not accept new deposits. Once such legal revisions are made, we plan to resume new enrollments.

- No immune rejection:
Cord blood stem cells are immature and lack most antigen markers, minimizing immune response. As a result, immunosuppressants are generally not needed.
- Safer than embryonic or adult stem cells:
Cord blood stem cells carry no risk of tumorigenesis (unlike embryonic stem cells) and demonstrate higher replication and differentiation potential than adult stem cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or fat.

Side effects are extremely rare. If infectious diseases such as HIV or hepatitis or genetic abnormalities are detected during cord blood collection, the sample is discarded before storage. As no artificial cell culture is involved, the risk of abnormal cell formation is eliminated. The procedure is similar to a blood transfusion and considered relatively safe.

Hucord has supplied over 78% of cord blood transplants in Korea (according to the Korean Society of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation). Since providing its first unit to a leukemia patient in Japan in 2001, Hucord has also supplied therapeutic cord blood to patients in the U.S., Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, and more. Starting in 2020, we are also planning to provide cord blood stem cells free of charge to pediatric leukemia patients as part of our social contribution program.

In most cases, the amount of cells in one unit of cord blood is insufficient even for a single transplant, especially in adults. Therefore, dividing the cord blood for multiple transplants is not feasible. However, Hucord maintains one of the world's largest inventories of donor cord blood and can help match and supply suitable units if needed.

Yes. Unlike organ transplants, hematopoietic stem cell transplants can be performed across different blood types. Techniques exist to remove or minimize incompatible antibodies, and once successful engraftment occurs, the recipient's blood type may even convert to that of the donor.

No. Although initially more common in pediatric cases, adult transplants using cord blood are increasing. As the cord blood inventory matures over time, adult transplants are expected to become even more prevalent. Countries like France and Spain already report higher usage in adults than children.

Cord blood stem cell transplantation has a lower risk of immune rejection and complications compared to bone marrow transplants. In cases where HLA matches are equivalent, cord blood has even shown better clinical outcomes, according to international studies.

1. Minimal or no additional cost
- Cord blood is collected from the placenta/umbilical cord at birth without surgical procedures.
2. Flexible timing for transplant
- Stored cord blood allows for immediate transplantation when needed.
3. Minimal donor burden
- Collection is non-invasive and causes no harm to the mother or baby.
4. Reduced hospital visits and testing
- Pre-screened cord blood reduces the need for extensive tests at transplantation.
5. Low risk of immune rejection or complications
- The immature nature of cord blood cells lowers the incidence of GVHD and other immune-related issues.
6. Short preparation time and low infection risk
- Collection in a sterile environment limits contamination risks, enabling faster use post-decision.

Not necessarily. In fact, most therapeutic use of cord blood involves donor samples from others. The probability of needing one’s own stored cord blood is extremely low — about 0.04% according to a 2013 report by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. Advanced medical systems in the U.S. and Europe also discourage exclusive reliance on family cord blood. Donor-based public cord blood banks remain the most effective option for stem cell transplants.

No. Although autologous cord blood perfectly matches the donor’s HLA, most conditions requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplants are linked to genetic factors. Thus, using one’s own cord blood is rarely medically appropriate. Also, adult patients often require over 20 million nucleated cells per kg (typically more than two units), which exceeds what a single cord blood unit provides. Therefore, using donor cord blood often results in better clinical outcomes.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets — essential for treating leukemia and blood disorders. Stem cells, in a broader sense, can differentiate into various tissue types such as bone, cartilage, and muscle, making them valuable for regenerative medicine. Cord blood is rich in both types of cells. However, most diseases requiring HSC transplantation have genetic origins, which is why family banking for personal use is often discouraged.