Maliha Hassan looked up from a bag of umbilical cord blood she was processing to answer 18-year-old Nick Rouse.
"How come when a person donates blood they can't extract stem cells from that?" asked the senior from A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School.
"They do see them in the blood, but they're not that concentrated," said Mrs. Hassan, a medical technologist for Xytex Cord Blood Bank. Thus the value of cord blood, which is rife with them.
"Because they are so immature, you're able to form more different kinds of cells?" asked Stephen Brown, 18.
"Right," Mrs. Hassan said.
The students are more than curious onlookers at the lab -- they are prepping for a statewide debate next month on health care issues. This year's topic at the debate in Athens is whether cord blood should be sold. Currently, families can bank the blood for their own use or donate it for research. The students, who are members of A.R. Johnson's chapter of the Health Occupations Students of America, won't be told until just before debate time which position they will argue, so they have to approach the issue from both sides.
"So we have to look at all of the aspects of it," Mr. Brown said.
"It also makes sure that you yourself are not biased," said Nand Patel, 18.
While the debate is about cord blood, it is also about stem cells.
"We're also trying to research the aspects of the cord blood and why should it be used instead of other forms of stem cells," Mr. Brown said.
"The main reason why it (would be) sold is because stem cells are present inside," Mr. Patel said. "And cord blood is just basically the medium in which stem cells are suspended."
Cord blood banking has attracted controversy because of the expense of storing it for years versus the relatively small chance it will be used.
"But I also think if you're the one banking it, it is your choice," Mr. Brown said. "It's just like you making a choice in the stock market."
"It's like insurance," said Brandon Hudson, 18.
Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.
UP FOR DEBATE
Four students from A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School will take part in a debate over selling cord blood during the State Leadership Conference of the Georgia Health Occupations Students of America, March 5-7 in Athens.
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