The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Now, an umbilical blood bank in capital city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Now, an umbilical blood bank in capital city

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A private hospital for women and children at Ulloor in the city has set up a bank that enables parents to store umbilical cord blood, which is a potential source of stem cells that can help treat genetic disorders.

Cord blood, which is a rich source of stem cells, can be used to treat life-threatening diseases. "We are providing this facility for the first time in southern Kerala," said Santhamma Mathew, proprietor of the 100-bed Credence Hospital (Institute for Women's Health and Fertility Research). Cord blood is the blood remaining in the umbilical cord after a baby is born. This is extra blood, which is discarded routinely and measures approximately one cupful. Cord blood contains immature blood cells that grow and divide into different type of blood cells.

These seed cells are similar to cells in the bone marrow and work in the same manner as bone marrow transplant. People with cancer or leukaemia may require a bone marrow or cord blood transplant as part of their treatment.

Dr. Santhamma said the cord blood collected is preserved in blood bags and shifted within 36 hours to LifeCell, a cord blood bank unit in Chennai, the first one of its kind in India. The United States based Cryo-Cell provides technical assistance to the LifeCell unit of Chennai.

In the laboratory of LifeCell, the stem cells are separated from the collected blood and preserved at minus 196 degrees C. The total cost for preserving stem cells for 30 years is Rs.50,000, an official of Credence Hospital said.

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