The Blood Trail

As things stand today, the storage option is viable only if a family has a child suffering from a blood disorder, particularly thal...

Banks can provide matching stem cells on demand. Plus frozen cord blood can be tapped at convenience, unlike freshly donated marrow
Lt-Col Rajat Kumar professor, dept of haematology, AIIMS

What is cord blood?

It8217;s the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth, which is normally discarded. Medical research has determined cord blood to be a rich source of stem cells, earlier thought to be present only in the bone marrow. Stem cells are the building blocks of blood and immune cells which, when introduced in a compatible diseased body, can regenerate and replenish the blood supply.

How is cord blood collected?

The cord blood donor the mother is screened in the same way as a blood/bone marrow donor. After delivery, the placenta and umbilical cord are cleaned, the umbilical cord is cut and clamped, and cord blood collected in a sterile container. The tests that are performed on donated whole blood 8212; infectious diseases, HIV, syphilis 8212; are performed on cord blood as well; its tissue type is also determined.

As things stand today, the storage option is viable only if a family has a child suffering from a blood disorder, particularly thalassaemia
Dr Amita Mahajan consultant paediatric oncologist, Indraprastha Apollo

What is cord blood banking?

The concept of cord blood banking dates back to 1993. It involves collecting and storing umbilical cord blood in approved kits. In the bank, red blood cells are removed from the cord blood, which is then frozen in cryogenic storage. Removing the RBCs minimises the risk of blood type ABO compatibility. So, if the stem cells are needed for a family member other than the newborn, there is a greater chance of a match.

Over 1 lakh cord blood samples have been collected, processed, typed and stored for clinical use worldwide.

Why are cord blood stem cells preferred over bone marrow cells?

Easier matching criteria, lower incidence and severity of life-threatening rejection, lower risk of transmission of infectious agents, immediate availability. Obtaining stem cells from cord blood is pain-free, simple, non-invasive.

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What you pay
Enrollment charges: Rs 5,000
HLA Typing: Rs 15,000
Processing Fees: Rs 50,000
Service Charges storage: Up to 6 months: Rs 4,000
6 months to 2 years: Rs 4,000 for every 6 months
2-5 years: Rs 3,500 for every 6 months
Cord Blood Collection Charges: Rs 20,000
8230; OR Rs 2,50,000: Service charge for a unit of ReliCord
There is no charge for donation of cord blood

Who is eligible?

Moms-to-be should be above 18, below 40 years, healthy; no unexplained deaths of children in the family; no congenital blood disorders; no high-risk behaviour history; no infectious diseases. This is not an exhaustive list.

Where is the facility available in India?

In major hospitals across the country, for short-term upto three years or so storage. Also at the Reliance Life Science facility at H N Hospital, South Mumbai, where stem cell-rich cord blood is barcoded, HLA typed and preserved in canisters at -196 degrees C under liquid nitrogen. It has Indian Food and Drug Administration approval to store cord blood units till 2007, then subject to periodic renewals.