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 much does this procedure cost?

At Asia Cryo Cell Private Limited, you have three payment options to choose from, the simplest being a single or one-time payment option of Rs 59,000 for a storage period of 21 years.

Finally, the choice to bank a baby's UCB rests with the parents. "I do not think that UCB collection can, or even should, be made mandatory. It is, and must remain, up to the parents to make this choice. But I think a few years from now, stem cell therapy will be very common. The many medical possibilities of using the blood in stem cell applications in diverse treatments are growing each day and while it might seem outlandish to store it today, it could become as commonplace as doing an ultrasound scan, in a decade from now," says Dr Nandakumar.

How long can the cells be stored?

The viability for storing umbilical cord blood for 16 years has already been proved. At minus 195o Celsius, there is little chance of deterioration or contamination. In the past 16 years, there's been no incident of deterioration and the cells have been successfully thawed, re-grown and transplanted into humans without any loss of potency.

Are there any controversies about umbilical stem cell research?

The ethical issues surrounding this embryonic stem cell research should not to be confused with umbilical stem cell research, which is responsible, ethical and non-controversial. The government of India however, does not yet have any laws governing these research practices though some legal guidelines on therapeutic cloning that are pro-life are expected to come soon.