Is this where science fiction meets everyday life? Is that most sacred bond - that between a mother and her newborn child - being invaded by the new technology of genetic engineering? Or is stem cell storage going to be like a routine blood test in the near future?

In what seems like an incredible leap in medical and genetic research, India is advancing towards the infinite possibilities offered by stem cells grown from Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB). And a new kind of choice faces mothers-to-be as they decide what is best for their infant...

What is Umbilical Cord Blood?

Blood contained in the umbilical cord is UCB. It is collected at the time of delivery of a baby. The reason it is of medical interest is because 16 years ago, researchers found that UCB contains a very rich source of 'stem cells'.

How is UCB collected?

Usually, after a baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is clamped in two places and while the baby is removed for cleaning after being cut away from the umbilical cord, the placenta and the remaining umbilical cord are waiting to be expelled by the mother. It is at this stage that we insert a needle into the umbilical vein and collect the foetal blood via gravity into the blood collection bag. After a while, the vein naturally collapses. We are not taking anything extra either from the baby or from the mother. The process is not painful and the mother is not even aware of the procedure most of the time, since she is recovering from the larger process of delivering her baby.

How does a stem cell bank work?

A sample of blood (it varies from 15 to 20 ml of blood) from the mother is collected once labour starts for the purpose of screening. Once the cord blood and the mother's blood are collected, they are transported to the lab within 48 hours. The samples are maintained at temperatures that range between five and 25 degrees Celsius. Once it reaches the testing lab, there is parallel processing of the mother's blood (for infection) and the baby's blood, which will be harvested for the stem cells. The process of harvesting the stem cells takes about three to four hours and it is then stored under liquid nitrogen at minus 195 degrees Celsius. The sample of the mother's blood is also stored at minus 80o Celsius. Explaining the complexities of this type of storage, Dr Saranya says, "The amount of chord blood we collect is 10 ml and it is divided into two portions and stored in two different storage facilities. This is done because in the event of any natural calamity, this is a unique sample that cannot be replaced."

What are 'stem cells'?

Stem cells are those cells which have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the human body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells, as long as the person is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialised function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell. Until recently, these stem cells have been collected from the bone marrow and have been used widely and successfully in the treatment of cancer and thalassemia.