Doctors checked the genes of several embryos created through IVF.
They then filtered out those passing on the parents' genetic disease, and chose the ones whose antigens matched those of the sick sister.
Next, the selected embryos were placed into the mother's womb. Immediately after birth the umbilical cord blood was collected and saved for future stem cell transplantation.
"Conducting this type of antigen typing enables couples carrying the beta-thalassemia virulence gene to have a baby. Not only a healthy baby but one also able to save the life of their other child," Zhou said. Therefore, "experts around the world tend to call such test-tube babies 'therapeutic'".
Professor Wang Lina at Peking University Third Hospital's center of reproductive medicine, however, pointed out that the procedure was controversial, especially because there was a lack of legislation covering it and it could be abused.
"Our hospital will not carry it out at least until health authorities issue the relative rules and regulations," she said.
Qiu Renzong, a leading bioethicist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, had a different opinion."This is just a regular clinical practice and does no harm to anyone. So why not support it. It can help save lives," he said.
The service is only offered to particular parents, Zhou said.
"We offer the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) service, including human leukocyte antigen typing, only to parents of a child who needs stem cell or bone marrow transplants and they should be legally allowed to have a second baby."
Ma got permission in 2008 from family planning authorities to have a second child.
The ethics committee of the hospital can supervise and veto the procedure to prevent possible abuse, Zhou said.
However, he conceded that risks, including possible side effects to the mother during the process and potential health problems for the test-tube baby, did exist.
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