What is accreditation at a stem cell bank?

Accreditation is an independent external quality assessment confirming compliance with defined international standards for safety, quality, processes and documentation.

AABB is an internationally recognized professional organization for blood, cell and tissue therapies. Accreditation confirms standardized and validated processes.

What does FACT NetCord mean?

FACT NetCord is an international accreditation specifically focused on cord blood quality and safety.

Which accreditation is better?

Both represent high international quality standards. FACT NetCord is specialized in cord blood, while AABB has a broader scope including blood and tissue storage.

Certifications
Accreditations

Certifications and International Quality Standards

At FamiCord Suisse, we offer the storage of cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, and placental tissue in accordance with clearly defined quality, safety, and legal standards.
Our certifications and accreditations confirm that our processes comply with applicable national and international requirements.

As a stem cell bank operating in Switzerland, FamiCord Suisse is obliged to comply with all regulatory requirements so that families can trust that stored stem cells are handled safely, traceably, and preserved over the long term.

National Swiss Authorizations – FamiCord Suisse

In Switzerland, FamiCord Suisse holds the required regulatory authorizations and is subject to regular oversight by the competent authorities.
These approvals are publicly accessible and demonstrate the legal compliance and quality of our activities.

The cryogenic storage facility for stem cells is located in Marly (Canton of Fribourg).
Our administrative and advisory activities are carried out at our locations in Zug and Stabio (Canton of Ticino).

Swiss authorizations and registry entries

Swissmedic – Operating license

Official authorization to operate the stem cell bank

View current entry in the SwissGMDP register

Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)

Authorization for activities in the field of cord blood and cord tissue

These national authorizations ensure that our processes are regularly reviewed and comply with Swiss legal requirements.

International Standards – FamiCord Group

FamiCord Suisse is part of the FamiCord Group, one of the largest European groups in the field of perinatal stem cell banking services.

Through this affiliation, FamiCord Suisse benefits from internationally established, group-wide quality and safety standards that complement its Swiss national authorizations.
For families, this means that stem cell storage is carried out both locally in accordance with Swiss regulations and in line with internationally recognized standards.

AABB – Accreditation of the FamiCord Group

AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies) is an internationally recognized professional organization for blood, cell, and tissue therapies.

The FamiCord Group is accredited according to AABB standards.
This accreditation confirms compliance with defined international requirements for collection, processing, storage, quality assurance, and documentation.

Why AABB accreditation is relevant:

Broad scope of application
Depending on the scope of services of the respective facility, AABB accreditation may apply to cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, and placental tissue.
It therefore provides a unified quality and safety framework for multiple biological materials.

International recognition
AABB standards are recognized worldwide by clinics and medical institutions as proof of quality and facilitate the classification of stored materials in an international medical context.

Regular external review
Accreditation is granted only following comprehensive audits and must be renewed on a regular basis. Processes, documentation, and quality assurance are reviewed as part of these audits.

Positioning Compared to FACT NetCord

FACT NetCord is an internationally recognized quality standard with a clear focus on cord blood.
AABB has a broader scope and includes the storage of blood and tissues within a single accreditation framework.

The differences do not lie in the fundamental level of quality, but in the scope and orientation of the respective standards.

For families, this means:
AABB accreditation provides a comprehensive quality framework when multiple tissue types are stored.

Accreditation Comparison
for the storage of cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, and placental tissue

FACT NetCord

AABB

Purpose of the accreditation

International quality accreditation specifically focused on cord blood banking.

International quality accreditation for blood, cell, and tissue therapies.

Covered materials

Umbilical cord blood is the central focus of the requirements. Other tissue types are not a core component of the program.

Includes umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, and placental tissue, provided these services are offered by the respective bank.

Applicability for multiple tissue types

The accreditation primarily relates to processes surrounding umbilical cord blood.

Enables a uniform quality and safety framework for multiple stored tissue types.

Focus of quality standards

Highly specialized in the classical application of blood stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

Broader approach to blood and tissue stem cells, including new and future therapeutic approaches.

Quality and safety review

Very detailed requirements for the collection, processing, storage, and release of umbilical cord blood.

Very detailed requirements for the collection, processing, storage, documentation, and release of umbilical cord blood, as well as for the collection, processing, storage, and documentation of tissues.

Flexibility for new medical developments

Focus on established cord blood applications.

The standards are designed for different cell and tissue types and are therefore flexibly applicable.

International recognition

Recognized worldwide, particularly in the field of public umbilical cord blood banks and transplantation medicine.

Widely recognized worldwide by blood banks, cell and tissue institutions

Relevance for families

High levels of safety and quality for the storage of umbilical cord blood.

High levels of safety and quality for all stored blood and tissue types within a single accreditation framework.

Summary

Highly specialized quality standard for umbilical cord blood.

Comprehensive quality standard for umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, and placental tissue.

Frequently Asked Questions about Accreditations (FAQ)

What is accreditation at a stem cell bank?

Accreditation is an independent external quality assessment. It confirms that a stem cell bank complies with defined international standards for safety, quality, processes, and documentation in the collection, processing, and storage of biological material.
What does AABB mean?

AABB is an internationally recognized professional organization for blood, cell, and tissue therapies.
An AABB accreditation confirms that an institution applies standardized and validated processes for handling blood, cells, and tissues.
What does FACT NetCord mean?

FACT NetCord is an international accreditation specifically developed for cord blood banks.
It focuses on the quality and safety of cord blood—from collection through to potential therapeutic use.
Which materials are covered by AABB accreditation?
Depending on the scope of services of the respective bank, AABB accreditation may apply to:
- Cord blood
- Umbilical cord tissue
- Placental tissue
All of these materials can be assessed within a unified quality and safety framework.
Which materials are covered by FACT NetCord?

FACT NetCord is primarily focused on cord blood.
Other tissue types, such as umbilical cord tissue or placental tissue, are not the main focus of this accreditation.
Which accreditation is better?
Both accreditations represent high international quality standards.
The differences lie not in quality, but in scope:
- FACT NetCord is highly specialized in cord blood
- AABB has a broader scope and includes blood and tissue storage
Which accreditation is more suitable depends on which materials are being stored.
Why is AABB particularly relevant when multiple tissue types are stored?
When cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, and/or placental tissue are stored, AABB provides:
- A unified quality standard
- Consistent safety and documentation processes
- Clear requirements for different cell and tissue types
This creates transparency and traceability for all stored materials.
Does FACT NetCord mean lower quality?

No. FACT NetCord is a very high-quality, internationally recognized standard.
However, it is specifically focused on cord blood and was not designed to cover multiple different tissue types equally.
What does this mean specifically for us as a family?
For families, this means:
- High safety and quality in storage
- Clearly defined processes and regular external audits
- When multiple tissue types are stored: a unified quality framework under AABB
How often are accredited banks reviewed?

Accredited banks are regularly reviewed by independent experts.
These reviews include checks of processes, documentation, quality assurance, and safety standards.
Why do we communicate our accreditations transparently?
Accreditations create:
- Trust
- Comparability
- Safety
They demonstrate that a stem cell bank voluntarily and regularly subjects its processes to external review.

Short summary
AABB provides a comprehensive, internationally recognized quality framework for the storage of cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, and placental tissue. FACT NetCord is an internationally recognized quality standard with a specialization in cord blood.

Additional International Standards (Group-wide)

ISO 9001

Internationally recognized standard for quality management systems

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) & GDP (Good Distribution Practice)

Standards for manufacturing, control, and distribution

ATMP Authorization – Regulatory Expertise at Group Level

The FamiCord Group holds an ATMP (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products) authorization.
This authorization permits the manufacture of cell therapy products within a regulatory framework in which cells are classified as medicinal products.

It demonstrates the group’s regulatory and technical expertise in the field of advanced cell therapies.
This authorization does not constitute a commitment to provide individual therapies, but rather defines the approved framework for corresponding developments.

Professional Associations and Networks

FamiCord Suisse is a member of international professional associations and networks that promote professional exchange and alignment with current scientific developments:

European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Cord Blood Association

Quality and Transparency

All processes—from collection to long-term storage—are subject to defined quality controls and documentation requirements.
Regular internal and external audits ensure that stored stem cells are handled safely, traceably, and in accordance with applicable standards.

Recognition of the FamiCord Group

The renowned Life Sciences Review has named the FamiCord Group “Europe’s Leading Stem Cell Bank.” This recognition confirms the group’s leading position as Europe’s largest stem cell bank and highlights our commitment to the highest quality standards, clinical reliability, and continuous innovation in the collection, processing, and long-term storage of perinatal stem cells.

The award recognizes, among other aspects:

Established international quality and safety standards

Technological advancement in the field of cell therapy

Clinical use of perinatal stem cells in an international context

To date, perinatal stem cells from facilities within the group have already been used in numerous clinical applications. In addition, the group continues to expand its international network, including through additional AABB-accredited laboratories.