FAQ
How much does this service cost?
The pricing for our service is determined by individual fertility clinics. We charge a fixed fee to the fertility clinics based on labor and lab costs to derive and culture the cells.
What advantages do family-owned embryonic stem cells provide?
The advantage of having family stem cell lines is that as embryonic stem cell therapies become available, you and your family will have access to your own therapeutic quality stem cells with a higher likelihood of immunocompatibility with genetically-related family members than any generic embryonic stem cell lines. This may reduce risks associated with using over-manipulated generic stem cell lines and the chance for negative immune system response and tissue rejection.
How will this help my family?
Using StemLifeLine’s service to develop family stem cell line is investment for the future. More than a decade of scientific data strongly supports the future use of embryonic stem cells for treating a variety of degenerative conditions, such as those that occur following spinal cord injury, or Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
Are there any guarantees that my embryos will develop into stem cell lines?
We suggest that clients devote multiple embryos for this purpose to ensure a high chance of successful derivation, but it is not guaranteed.
Do you have proof that this works?
StemLifeLine has successfully completed confidential pilot studies that validate our service offering.
What if I can’t get a stem cell line from the embryos?
In the event that we cannot develop a stem cell line, StemLifeLine will reimburse our clients the amount of the derivation fee.
What do you do with the stem cells after the stem cell lines are derived?
StemLifeLine cryopreserves them for individuals for future use.
How long will you store these stem cells for?
Stem cells will be stored for as long as the customer has a current storage contract. If they are stored under appropriate conditions (cryopreserved at -320 F) their quality is expected to be preserved indefinitely.
How far along is stem cell research?
Stem cells have been used for the past 30 years for treatment in patients. However, so far the stem cells most commonly used in therapy are adult stem cells derived from the bone marrow which have limited applicability and growth potential.
There are many therapeutic applications currently in research that show very encouraging results. The most promising include treatments for numerous degenerative conditions and include spinal cord injury (SCI); post-cardiac infarction heart muscle cell replacement; diabetes; some types of blindness; bone and cartilage repair; and treatment of female and male sterility.
For additional information on clinical study results, please visit our Clinical Applications Page
How long will my stem cells remain viable under the conditions of cryopreservation?
Within our storage conditions they are expected to remain in a state allowing their application for decades after they have been generated.
Who owns my stem cells?
The stem cells lines that StemLifeLine develops are owned by its respective clients; therefore it is up to each client to decide who may access their stem cell lines.
Can my stem cells be shared with others?
Biologically, stem cells for some sites in the body need to specifically match the tissue, similar to the process for any foreign tissue donation. However, there are other sites that may not require a direct tissue match in order to be successful. This is currently an area of intensive research.
How many people can be helped by these stem cells? Do they run out?
Stem cells are virtually unlimited in their growth potential and embryonic stem cells, in particular, can be cultivated for multiple individuals, or cell types.
What happens to the stem cells if StemLifeLine goes out of business or decides not to store them anymore?
StemLifeLine would transfer the stem cell lines to the in vitro fertilization center or to a national Cryobank facility that can store them for a fee indefinitely. Since our clients own the cells, the decision on what will happen to them is entirely theirs.
