Probability of Using Cord Blood

What Are the Chances You’ll Use Privately Stored Cord Blood?

Storing your baby’s cord blood is a long-term investment in health and future care. But one of the most common questions among parents is: how likely is it that this deposit will ever be used?

Before 2004, cord blood was primarily seen as a source of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells, a clinical alternative to bone marrow transplants. These therapies were limited to serious, often life-threatening conditions like:

Onco-hematologic diseases
Solid tumors
Inherited metabolic or immune system disorders

In total, around 80 conditions fall under this category. Fortunately, their occurrence-especially in children-is quite rare. Thanks to global donor registries, most patients can still find a matching sample if needed.

For privately stored cord blood, the clinical use probability has been estimated at 0.04% to 0.75%, or about 3 children in 5,000-depending on the region. However, the likelihood increases with age and medical needs. In the US, by age 70, the chance of use is estimated at 1 in 217.

The Rise of Regenerative Therapies

Since 2004, cord blood has moved beyond traditional uses into clinical trials, regenerative medicine, and experimental therapies. Currently, a growing number of studies support its potential in:

Neurological disorders in children and adults
Cardiovascular disease
Autoimmune conditions
Rejuvenation and tissue regeneration

There is also a specific use of cord blood components within the first hours after birth—during surgeries, for anemia prevention or treatment, as well as for managing complications from stroke and birth trauma.

What Are the Chances You’ll Use Privately Stored Cord Blood?

It’s best to calculate probability based on the incidence of cell-therapy‑eligible conditions in the population.

For example:

Cerebral palsy (CP): affects 2 in 1,000 full-term infants, and 2 in 100 preterm babies.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): in Germany, ~1 in 100; in the US, ~1 in 44-an increasing trend.
Cell therapy for neurological or developmental disorders can be effective when diagnosed and treated early, by ages 8-12, and having your own stem cell deposit ensures timely access.
Congenital heart defects affect 2 in every 1,000 newborns requiring surgery and lifelong follow-up.
Allergies and autoimmune diseases affect 30-50% of the population.

Early treatment is often critical. For neurological or developmental issues, stem cell therapy is most effective when started before age 8–12. Having a private deposit can avoid delays in access and eliminate the need for a donor search.

And don’t forget: the stored cord blood may also be a match for siblings or even parents - expanding the utility of a single cord blood deposit.

When all factors are combined, by age 70, approximately 1 in 3 individuals with a stored deposit may benefit from it. For rejuvenation and longevity purposes, every client of a private biobank stands to gain.

Who Should Strongly Consider Cord Blood Banking?

Increased risks of developing diseases and difficulties in finding a suitable donor of cell material exist for families where:

Older parents (increased genetic risks)
IVF pregnancies, especially when using donor eggs and sperm
Multiple births: twins and triplets
Risk of premature birth
Family history of hereditary conditions

Is One Deposit Enough for the Whole Family?

Cord blood has some limitations:

Only a limited number of stem cells can be collected
Risk of low volume collections that may not be usable for adults
There’s a slight risk of contamination with maternal microbiota, which may restrict regenerative use

Typically, one high-volume deposit is sufficient for:

1-2 adult treatments, or 2-4 pediatric therapies

Alternatives and Enhancements

Today, many families are choosing to store not only cord blood, but also:

Umbilical cord tissue
Placenta

These are rich in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which:

Are immune-privileged and compatible even with distant relatives
Offer larger therapeutic volumes
Are well-suited for regenerative and anti-inflammatory therapies

While processing MSCs is more expensive, they expand treatment options significantly. At the same time, cord blood remains a cost-effective and highly potent option for the child it came from.

Want to Learn More?

We invite you to a free online lecture about stem cell opportunities. 🔗 [Register here]

Explore real-life treatment stories using Hemafund’s stem cell therapies ➤ [Link to case studies]

Resources:

Kaimal, A. J., et al. "Cost-effectiveness of Private Umbilical Cord Blood Banking." Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 115, no. 5, 2009, pp. 1090–1097. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Medhekar, S. K., et al. "Recent Stem Cell Advances: Cord Blood and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells." Journal of Clinical & Cellular Immunology, vol. 7, no. 3, 2016, pp. 1–8. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Nietfeld, J. J., and D. T. Harris. "On the Probability of Using Cord Blood." Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, vol. 14, no. 8, 2008, pp. 913–914. (astctjournal.org)

"What Are the Odds That We Will Need Our Cord Blood?" Parents Guide Cord Blood, 16 Jan. 2025, (parentsguidecordblood.org)

"Cord Blood Banking: Purpose, Procedure & What to Expect." Cleveland Clinic, 15 Aug. 2022, (my.clevelandclinic.org)

"Umbilical Cord Blood Research: Current and Future Directions." National Institutes of Health, 2007, (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

"Cord Blood Transplantation." American Childhood Cancer Organization, (acco.org)

"Cord Blood & Uses to Treat Disease." About Stem Cells, 18 Sept. 2024, (aboutstemcells.org)

"Sibling Cord Blood & ViaCord's Sibling Connection Program." ViaCord, 14 July 2020, (viacord.com)

"Banking Each Child's Cord Blood is Critical for Sibling Use." Cryo-Cell, Aug. 2019, (cryo-cell.com)

"Can Cord Blood Be Used for Siblings, Parents, and Grandparents?" MiracleCord, 19 July 2022, (miraclecord.com)

"Cord Blood in Regenerative Medicine: Do We Need Immune Privilege?" Journal of Hematotherapy & Stem Cell Research, vol. 16, no. 1, 2007, pp. 1–9. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)