By Anthony Oliva, PhD
Updated August 28, 2026
Most parents end up comparing what stem cell banking involves in a short window, often while everything else about pregnancy is already demanding attention. Every bank’s marketing sounds confident: use cases, comparisons to competitors, promises about the future. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) publishes patient guidance to help families evaluate stem cell claims critically, including claims about banking cells for future therapeutic use. These five questions are a practical way to do that.
What to actually ask, and why each answer matters
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Is cord tissue included, and how is it processed?
Cord tissue is a much richer source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) than cord blood and provides cells that can be expanded in culture. Several banks offer cord tissue only as a higher-tier add-on, priced separately from their base plan, which can change the real cost behind a low advertised starting price. If the MSCs are not isolated at time of processing, the sample is likely not stored in optimal conditions. Are the cells expanded upon processing? If not, there are a very limited amount of stem cells in the cord tissue.
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Is the cell count a guarantee, or a “potential”?
A guarantee is something a bank is willing to define in writing and stand behind. It is also important to know what type of cells they are guaranteeing. Ask what minimum live MSC count is guaranteed and how it was measured. A count that is never documented cannot be verified later.
For context, Kabat et al. reviewed 914 registered MSC clinical trials and found a median intravenous dose of 100 million MSCs per patient per deployment. Doses varied widely across studies, so this is not a universal clinical target, but it does show why a documented cell quantity matters more than a vague “potential” (Kabat et al., 2020). A cord tissue sample on average contains about 2 million MSCs, or roughly 2% of the cells used in the dosing example above (VitalCells laboratory data).
When comparing banks, ask exactly what cell quantity is guaranteed, how it is measured, viability documentation, and what happens if that number is not reached. If you want to see why that number changes between banks, our comparison of cord blood and cord tissue shows what each one actually preserves.
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What happens if the guaranteed count is not met?
A meaningful guarantee should name a specific remedy, such as a refund if the stated terms are not met. If your sample does not grow to the promised count, what will the bank do?
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How is the sample processed and is it in an accredited lab?
Is the sample being processed in a clean room lab by highly skilled lab technicians? Is the lab FDA registered? Any other certifications or quality controls? How long does processing take and what steps are actually performed? These are all questions banks should be able to answer concisely to fully understand how your child’s sample is processed. It is also worth knowing what an answer of yes to the FDA question actually means. Registration is a filing: the facility tells the FDA it exists and what it does, and agrees to follow the tissue rules. It is not a review of the bank, not an approval of anything it stores, and not an endorsement.
What’s worth checking separately is whether the lab holds independent accreditations and exactly what that accreditation covers. Ask the bank to name it and verify that it’s current.
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How many stem cells will my child have access to?
This may be the most important question of all. Different cell types have very different levels of clinical evidence. Cord blood HSCs have established uses in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for selected blood, immune, genetic, and malignant disorders. The number of HSCs natively available in the cord blood is small and only for potential one-time use. The ACOG notes that there is currently no evidence supporting autologous cord blood for regenerative-medicine use. MSCs, meanwhile, are being studied across a broad range of clinical applications, but many of those uses remain investigational.
So ask the bank to separate three things clearly: what the cells are used for in established clinical practice today, what is being investigated in registered clinical trials, and what the company believes may become possible in the future. Those are not the same level of evidence.
Where VitalCells stands on each of these
VitalCells expands cells through CellMaxx, documents the resulting live-cell quantity, and backs its stated growth guarantee with a refund if the guarantee is not met. VitalCells works with regenerative medicine practitioners across the United States that are utilizing stem cells banked at our facility. Through its expansion process, VitalCells can produce and document large quantities of cells. What quantity is appropriate in any given case is a decision for the treating physician. Cord blood and cord tissue stem cell processing are included together in the VitalCells banking model.
When comparing any bank, the same standard should apply: ask for the cell quantity in writing, understand exactly what is guaranteed, verify the remedy if the guarantee is not met, and independently confirm the laboratory’s regulatory and accreditation credentials.
If you would like our answers to these five questions in writing, send us a note and we will put it together. No call required. You can also text a specialist at (469) 809-5806.
References
Kabat M, Bobkov I, Kumar S, Grumet M. Trends in mesenchymal stem cell clinical trials 2004–2018: is efficacy optimal in a narrow dose range? Stem Cells Transl Med. 2020;9(1):17–27. doi:10.1002/sctm.19-0202
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Umbilical cord blood banking. Committee Opinion No. 771. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;133(3):e249–e253.
International Society for Stem Cell Research. Patient handbook on stem cell therapies. ISSCR, 2020. Available at: isscr.org/patient-handbook
This blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It does not make any express or implied claims about the effectiveness, safety, or suitability of any procedure or therapy mentioned. VitalCells does not provide medical treatment. All procedures are performed by licensed, independent physicians. Always consult your own physician before making any health-related decision.