BACKGROUND:: Umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have been widely studied in clinics. Notably, UC-MSCs have to be properly preserved before clinical use and the effects of storage solution on viability of cells play critical roles in the effectiveness of cell-transplantation. However, there are few studies concerning this phenomenon. OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the effects of various clinical common solutions on the activity of UC-MSCs. METHODS:: UC-MSCs were stored at 0.9% sodium chloride injection, 5% glucose injection and 1% human serum albumin respectively at 4 °C and room temperature (25 °C) for 2, 4 or 6 hours. Viabilities, apoptosis/necrosis rate, multi-differentiation ability of preserved UC-MSCs and DNA damage were examined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:: The viabilities of UC-MSCs were rapidly decreased time-dependently in all of the storage solutions both at 4 °C and room temperature. Besides, the storage solutions resulted in cellular necrosis rather than apoptosis and the necrosis rate was greatly increased time-dependently. DNA damage was observed in cells after preserved in various storage solutions, but cell proliferation and differentiation were not affected, which demonstrated that DNA damage may be a key factor for the reduction of cell viabilities.Subject headings: stem cells; mesenchymal stem cells; umbilical cord; stem cell transplantation; preservation, biological