The collection of cord blood on Shabbat raises a few halachic issues. When there is a known recipient awaiting the cord blood (e.g., a sibling with cancer), it may certainly be collected on Shabbat.

Keeping in mind Shabbat issues, and also that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not currently recommend private storage for individual use, cord blood should not be collected on Shabbat if there is no known recipient. When it is not Shabbat, donating to a public cord blood bank is an act of chesed.

If there is a special need to collect cord blood, but there is no known recipient, an individual halachic question should be asked.