Umbilical cord blood storage involves a process that is used to preserve cord blood for later use in case of stem cell transplant surgeries. This storage is performed by the Umbilical Cord Blood Banks.

Umbilical cord blood storage involves removing the plasma and retaining the white blood cells that are essential in the transplantation.

First of all, the blood cells are tested and found safe to be used in transplantation, prior to proceeding with the umbilical cord blood storage.

Cell storage is made possible by reducing the temperature of the blood cells to as low as –180 degrees, along with adding a cryoprotectant, a protective agent, to avoid any damage to the blood cells due to low temperature.

There are some private umbilical cord blood banks that promote storage of cord blood for use within the family, at a future period. It is possible that there is a sibling who is suffering from a blood related disease that is found curable by usage of cord blood from the other child from the same parent.

In such cases, the umbilical cord blood from the storage is used for stem cell transplantation. There is another reason cord blood is stored for private use.

The same child might in a future period need a bone marrow transplant and the child’s own umbilical cord blood from the storage would prove to be a boon. Umbilical cord blood banks charge a fee for reserving the blood for family needs.

Such demand and advertising from private cord blood storage banks are increasing everyday. Normally, even though there is a great awareness of reserving cord blood for future use, there is a possibility a need for the cord blood might not arise within the family.

Thus some advocates of public cord blood banks, advise people to donate their cord blood rather than reserving it for private use.

There are many public umbilical cord blood banks which request donation of cord blood for storage, to be used by others who might have an affliction that can be cured by using cord blood.In most cases umbilical cord blood from the storage can match people with the same ethnic background.

So, it is suggested that cord blood storage is promoted for the diverse ethnic groups, which can serve a better volume of public than otherwise. Though there is a noble purpose served here, public cord blood banks are not greatly advertised, unlike private banks.