The collection of cord blood (from the placenta or umbilical cord of a newborn child) is a new medical practice being utlized for its potential to combat specific diseases and other medical conditions. And with the value of cord blood being recognized for its available stem cells and useful medical properties, people are now more interested and concerned about having the ability to store cord blood for its potential use in future transplants and medical procedures.

Private companies are starting to fill some of the needs for more cord blood storage services, as public and non-profit are not able to keep up with the demand for cord blood collection and storage of this medical quantity. Cord blood bank facilities are becoming more prevalent and cord blood banking services are being promoted in order to make future usage more viable.

As the number of stem cells is higher than those available for transplant from other sources, and as scientific methods come up with ways to increase the yield of stem cells from cord blood, the ability to store cord blood will become more important in enabling their use to treat adults as well as children.