Stem cell banking is the process of extracting, processing, and storing stem cells from a live donor. The most common type of stem cell banking is from the blood that remains in a newborn’s umbilical cord immediately after birth. Other sources include bone marrow, tooth pulp, and fat.

Stem cell banking can be conducted either privately, with the individual paying for the storage of his or her own stem cells for use at a future date, or donated to a public bank, from which someone who needs the stem cells can receive them. Those who choose to bank their stem cells through a private company do so as a sort of biological insurance; they store their stem cells in the event that they (or a family ...