Question 1

How are stem cells collected?

Accepted Answer

Board-certified physicians in the Forever Labs network can collect mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from two primary sources: bone marrow and adipose (fat) tissue.

Bone Marrow Aspiration: Typically a quick, outpatient procedure using a local anesthetic to collect stem cells from the iliac crest, or hip area.

Adipose Tissue Extraction: Stem cells can be collected during an adipose procedure like liposuction, isolated from fat tissue, then stored as a vital resource. This method uses fat tissue that would otherwise be discarded.

A bone marrow aspiration also collects your hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in actionable quantities, banked together with your MSCs. We only bank autologous (your own) cells, ensuring you have biologically optimal samples ready for future regenerative therapies worldwide. Learn more about whether stem cell collection through bone marrow or adipose tissue is right for you on the Forever Labs blog.

Question 2

What is the best age to collect my stem cells?

Accepted Answer

The best age to collect and preserve your stem cells is now.

As we age, our stem cells age with us. In studies, older mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show markedly reduced expansion capacity compared with younger cells, with donor age associated with lower proliferation potential. Stem cells from older donors have also shown to exhibit a reduced ability to differentiate into tissues such as bone or cartilage.

We collect and preserve stem cells for individuals aged 18 and older. Learn why freezing your stem cells matters today.

Question 3

How many times do I need to have my stem cells collected?

Accepted Answer

Only once. We store your cells in multiple vials for multiple possible future treatments, and they can later be expanded into larger therapeutic doses under clinical guidance. A single collection is all that's needed for long-term banking. Our primary lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan is ISO-accredited; culture expansion is planned at our cGMP-compliant lab in Jupiter, Florida, Q4 2026.

Question 4

What can my stem cells be used for in the future?

Accepted Answer

More than 1,500 registered MSC and MSC-derived clinical trials worldwide (ClinicalTrials.gov, accessed August 2026) are exploring the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in areas of longevity, regenerative medicine, aesthetics, and wellness. Diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and autoimmune conditions are actively being researched, with no timeline implied for approval or availability. Trials are also exploring ways to use stem cells to address aging itself.

State pathways in Florida, Tennessee, and Wyoming already permit certain orthopedic, wound-care, and pain-management uses of your own cells today, and culture-expanded MSC products are approved abroad (South Korea's Cartistem, India's Stempeucel) — the model for what therapeutic dose can look like as expansion becomes available in the US.

Question 5

How do I request my stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Your stem cells belong to you. Forever Labs is simply the custodian. With full chain-of-custody ownership, you can request your cells at any point along the way. They can be shipped to any laboratory, clinic, or other bio-repository in the U.S. or internationally.

Question 6

Can I donate my stem cells to research?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We believe that we all must play our part to advance medicine and technology. All members have the option to donate a micro-aliquot of their stem cells to help further active research initiatives in the U.S.

Question 7

What is the procedure like?

Accepted Answer

Bone Marrow Stem Cell Collection: Bone marrow stem cell collection is a minimally invasive out-patient procedure performed with local anesthetic. The entire procedure takes about 15 minutes. Most clients report a fleeting (5-10 second) pressure-like sensation upon withdrawal. The procedure is low-risk and does not leave scarring. Adipose Stem Cell Collection: Stem cells can also be isolated from fat tissue collected during a liposuction or adipose-based procedure. Ordinarily, that tissue would go to waste. With Forever Labs, the valuable stem cells are extracted from the tissue and stored for your future use. Each of us at Forever Labs has had the procedure. Feel free to reach out and talk to us about it.

Question 8

Are there any health concerns with a bone marrow draw?

Accepted Answer

As with any medical procedure, there is always some form of risk involved. However, when undergoing a bone marrow aspiration, that risk is minimal and complications are rare. If you have a pre-existing condition that causes you to have low platelet counts or a weakened immune system, it may be wise to seek further advice from a medical professional. In general, clients can expect moderate soreness at the site of aspiration as well as possible tenderness and bruising. Talk with your physician about a plan on how to mitigate these symptoms following your procedure.

Question 9

Does research link stem cells to a healthier and longer life?

Accepted Answer

More than 1,500 registered MSC and MSC-derived clinical trials worldwide (ClinicalTrials.gov, accessed August 2026) are studying mesenchymal stem cells, including for age-related disease, and many are currently in phases II and III. Young stem cell treatments in animal models suggest potential to increase healthspan, and possibly lifespan; evidence that these benefits may translate to humans continues to grow.

Large controlled trials of same-day products in knee osteoarthritis (MILES 2023; Shapiro 2017) found parity with standard injections — evidence that dose and product type matter, which is the rationale for banking younger cells and expanding them later.

Question 10

How are stem cells safely frozen and then thawed for future use?

Accepted Answer

Preserving the viability of cells is of the upmost importance when cryogenically freezing samples for future use. To avoid damage to cells during this process a cryoprotectant, such as Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) is added. When diluted in cell mixtures, DMSO prevents intracellular and extracellular ice crystal formation from occurring, therefore preventing cellular damage and increasing cell membrane integrity. The use of DMSO is a validated method that has been used for decades for cryopreservation in such practices as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and clinical cell banking.

Question 11

How do I retrieve my stem cells?

Accepted Answer

You can request your stem cells by contacting Forever Labs directly, or by logging into your account. They can then be shipped to a laboratory, clinic, or other biorepository worldwide for $300.

Question 12

When will I be able to use the stem cells that I have banked?

Accepted Answer

You may be able to use them sooner than you think. Florida's SB 1768 (in effect July 1, 2025), Tennessee's HB 2246 (July 1, 2026), and Wyoming's Stem Cell Freedom Act (July 1, 2026) each authorize physicians to administer your own stem cells for orthopedic, wound-care, and pain-management indications under state oversight — no FDA approval required. More states are advancing similar laws. Outside these pathways, broader uses await FDA approval; over 1,500 registered MSC clinical trials are underway worldwide.

Question 13

Can I use someone else's stem cells?

Accepted Answer

You are your own best source of stem cells. By using your own autologous cells, you mitigate the chance of your body eliciting an immune response. This can occur when your immune system identifies something as foreign, and attacks to eliminate the threat, as it does when you become infected with a virus. By using your own stem cells, the risk of such a response is diminished.

Question 14

Does Forever Labs perform stem cell therapy?

Accepted Answer

Forever Labs is your personal biobank. We collect and cryopreserve your stem cells so they remain biologically inert — the age you are at collection is the age your cells remain in storage. We do not administer therapies. However, a board-certified network physician directs any future use, and state pathways in Florida, Tennessee, and Wyoming now allow physicians to treat patients with their own banked cells for certain orthopedic, wound-care, and pain-management indications. Forever Labs coordinates preparation and delivery to your physician when that time comes.

Question 15

What happens if Forever Labs goes out of business? What safeguards are in place to ensure my cells will be preserved?

Accepted Answer

At Forever Labs we regard your samples as priority #1. Should there be an unforeseeable circumstance affecting the livelihood of the company, protective measures have been put in place and funds set aside to assure that your samples will remain securely stored at the biorepository until the day you request them.

Your cells are stored at independent, ISO-accredited biorepositories, and you retain full chain-of-custody ownership — Forever Labs is the custodian, not the owner. You can request transfer of your samples to another qualified facility at any time.

Question 16

When will stem cell therapy be approved for use in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Some uses are already authorized at the state level: Florida SB 1768 (2025), Tennessee HB 2246 (2026), and Wyoming SF 48 (2026) each permit physician-directed use of your own cells for orthopedic, wound-care, and pain-management care. At the federal level, FDA approval for specific stem cell therapies depends on ongoing clinical trials, several of which are in phases II and III. Banking now preserves your youngest cells for whichever pathway — state or federal — fits your future needs.

Question 17

If my physician collects stem cells for a same-day treatment, can my banked stem cells be used instead?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your banked stem cells can potentially be used for physician-directed treatments, subject to regulatory requirements and your physician's treatment plan.

Question 18

What are induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)?

Accepted Answer

iPSC stands for induced Pluripotent Stem Cell. It’s an ordinary adult cell (most commonly a skin fibroblast, though fat- and blood-derived cells can also be used) that has been “reprogrammed” back into an embryonic-like, pluripotent state. The breakthrough earned Shinya Yamanaka the 2012 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Because they’re pluripotent, iPSCs can become virtually any cell type in the body, including nerve, muscle, cardiac, or liver cells. That makes them a powerful foundation for patient-specific disease modeling, drug discovery, and next-generation regenerative medicine.

Question 19

Can your stem cells be stored and used for family members?

Accepted Answer

Stem cells work best when they are autologous (from your own body). While there may be some compatibility with close family members, your own stem cells provide the best match and lowest risk of immune rejection.

Question 20

Can I bank my iPSCs with Forever Labs?

Accepted Answer

Forever Labs doesn't bank iPSCs directly. We bank the living adult cells they are made from: iPSCs are created by reprogramming an ordinary adult cell, most commonly a skin fibroblast.

Fibroblast Storage banks your own skin cells from a quick skin punch. Blood Storage banks living immune cells (PBMCs), including cells suitable for reprogramming research. Stem Cell Storage banks your mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow or adipose tissue, and from bone marrow your hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) too.

The cells we preserve give you young, viable starting material to work from if you and your physician pursue an iPSC-based therapy down the road. The younger the cell when it's banked, the better the starting point.

Question 21

How much does stem cell banking cost?

Accepted Answer

Annual membership is $3,000 and includes the board-certified physician visit, in-office collection, cryopreservation, insulated shipping to our lab, and your first year of storage — then $300/year (~$25/month) thereafter. Lifetime membership is $10,000 with no recurring storage fees, and includes the Complete Baseline ($2,495 value). Monthly installments are available through Klarna or Affirm. Banking blood too? The Blood + Stem cells plan is $3,500 Annual (then $500/yr) or $12,500 Lifetime.

Question 22

Can I use my HSA or FSA to pay for stem cell banking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Forever Labs memberships are HSA/FSA eligible, and we also offer monthly installments through Klarna or Affirm. Contact our team if your plan administrator requires documentation.

Question 23

How do I see and manage my stored cells?

Accepted Answer

Every member gets access to the Forever app (iOS and Android) and the client portal. After your sample is processed and tested, you can view your vials and storage location — including your "Cellfie," a photo of your actual cells — and request your cells at any time.

Question 24

How long can my stem cells be stored?

Accepted Answer

Decades. Cells are frozen under a controlled-rate protocol and held in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen with redundant monitoring and 24/7 oversight. Cryopreservation with validated cryoprotectants has kept cells viable for decades in IVF and clinical cell banking, and the same principles apply here. Your cells remain the age they were at collection until the day you use them.

Question 25

How does my sample get to the lab?

Accepted Answer

By medical courier — never standard mail. Your sample travels in insulated, temperature-controlled packaging with real-time tracking and documented chain-of-custody handoffs from the collection room to our lab. At intake, identity is verified and every vial is barcoded into our laboratory information system.

Question 26

What if I move, or need my cells shipped internationally?

Accepted Answer

Your cells belong to you. We ship domestically and internationally to any qualified laboratory, clinic, or biorepository under full chain of custody, for a $300 retrieval shipping fee. Moving states — or countries — does not affect your storage.

Question 27

When will cell expansion be available?

Accepted Answer

Culture expansion is planned at our cGMP-compliant lab in Jupiter, Florida, Q4 2026. Your cells are stored as multiple aliquots, so a single vial can be thawed and expanded to a therapeutic dose (typically a 2–6 week process under physician direction) while the rest remain untouched. Expansion in Florida operates under SB 1768 oversight; availability in other states follows their own statutes.

Question 28

How many providers are in the Forever Labs network?

Accepted Answer

More than 40 board-certified physicians across 15+ states, one of the largest regenerative-care networks in the US. You choose your collection physician from the network, and the visit is included in your membership.

Question 29

Can I bank my stem cells during a cosmetic or liposuction procedure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you're already scheduled for liposuction or another adipose procedure, the fat tissue that would otherwise be discarded becomes the collection source — no separate procedure needed. Provider-partner plans reflect that with discounted pricing: $1,500 annual (50% off) and lifetime plans from $7,500–$8,000 depending on the partner.

Question 30

What exactly is cryopreserved from bone marrow or adipose collection?

Accepted Answer

We can process either bone marrow concentrate from an aspiration, or adipose tissue from an MFAT/liposuction procedure. In both cases we centrifuge the tissue to separate the MSCs and then confirm their viability before cryopreserving them. A bone marrow collection also captures your hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. They're cryopreserved alongside your MSCs at no additional cost, and we count CD34+ cells as part of intake testing. We normally preserve 8 vials of MSCs and 4 vials of blood plasma for each member.

Forever Labs only works with autologous cell therapies and operates within the FDA 361 pathway as well as the Florida regulatory pathway enabled by Florida law SB 1768.

Question 31

Do you culture-expand cells before storage, or store unexpanded material?

Accepted Answer

We store unexpanded cells. Culture expansion happens later at the presiding physician's directive — for most members that means thawing one cryopreserved vial. After viability is confirmed, expansion typically takes 2–6 weeks in vitro depending on the requested dose. We expand from the original extracted cells (passage zero / P0).

Culture expansion is planned at our cGMP-compliant lab in Jupiter, Florida, Q4 2026.

Question 32

What QC data do customers receive about their stored cells?

Accepted Answer

We track chain-of-custody, cell count, and viability statistics internally; those are available at the member's or physician's request. Our member app (iOS/Android) provides a "Cellfie" where the patient can see a photo of their healthy and processed MSCs, as well as the stored vials and the location where their vials are stored. The Complete Baseline, a 30× long-read whole genome and methylation record made from your own banked sample, is available now: $2,495, or included with every Lifetime plan. Long-read sequencing on expanded cells, for identity verification pre- and post-expansion, is planned alongside culture expansion in Q4 2026.

Question 33

Have you validated post-thaw recovery showing stored cells can attach, proliferate, and expand in culture?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We confirm viability of every sample before cryopreservation or culture expansion.

Question 34

Can I later direct Forever Labs to release or ship my cells to a third-party lab?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can request that your cells be shipped to any licensed physician or clinic for lawful, physician-supervised uses such as cell culture, iPSC/reprogramming, personalized medicine, or other approved applications.

Question 35

Do I retain ownership of my sample if Forever Labs changes vendors, is acquired, or ceases operations?

Accepted Answer

Your cells belong to you — Forever Labs is the appointed custodian of your biology. We maintain your cryopreserved cells on-site in our lab, and also with an off-site disaster recovery partner that manages cryopreservation at scale. In the unlikely event that we cease operations, we have established an entity that will manage the storage business indefinitely and is funded with the recurring storage revenue that our members pay each year.

Question 36

Do you offer fibroblast (skin cell) banking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Fibroblast Storage banks your own skin cells from a quick skin punch. A registered nurse or dermatologist numbs a small area of your inner upper arm and takes a sample a few millimeters wide, usually closed with 1–2 stitches. It takes about 10 minutes, and no physician visit is needed.

Our lab isolates your fibroblasts and cryopreserves them unexpanded, in liquid-nitrogen vapor. They're expanded later, after a vial is thawed for a specific use.

Plans are $1,500 Annual (then $300/yr) or $8,000 Lifetime, which includes the Complete Baseline ($2,495 value).

We generally reject requests to receive stored biology from other biobanks.

Question 37

Who is eligible to bank stem cells with Forever Labs?

Accepted Answer

We enroll adults 18 and older. Sooner is generally better because younger cells are more potent.

Whether you are a candidate for the collection itself is confirmed by the collecting physician at your consultation — medications, pregnancy, recent illness, and other health factors are reviewed there, not by a public checklist. Book a consult or call (888) 732-2375 if you want a physician to walk through your situation.

Question 38

How should I prepare for my stem cell collection day?

Accepted Answer

Your collecting physician gives the prep instructions at the consultation — including whether to eat, which medications to pause, and whether someone should drive you home. Forever Labs does not publish a universal fasting or medication list because that is part of the clinical visit.

Collection is a brief outpatient procedure under local anesthetic. Bone marrow aspiration itself typically takes about 15 minutes. Most clients drive themselves home or return to work later that day; some soreness for a few days is normal.

Question 39

What if my collection yield is low? Can I bank more than once?

Accepted Answer

For stem cells, most people bank once. We normally preserve eight vials of MSCs plus four vials of blood plasma so you have multiple aliquots for future physician-directed use. Cells are stored unexpanded; culture expansion later, under clinical guidance, can turn one vial into a requested dose (typically about 2–6 weeks in vitro). Expansion is rolling out at our Jupiter, Florida cGMP lab in Q4 2026 — not a buy-today product.

The lab confirms viability before cryopreservation. If a collection does not meet processing standards, the lab and your collecting physician determine next steps. Contact us at (888) 732-2375 or info@foreverlabs.com — we do not publish a one-size-fits-all redraw policy. Blood is different: many members bank a new vintage every few years so they have more than one reference point. Each draw is dated and stored as its own vintage, and future draws never replace the first.

Question 40

What's the difference between bone marrow and fat (adipose) collection?

Accepted Answer

Both are rich sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Only a bone marrow aspiration also collects hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in actionable quantities. If HSC banking matters to you, your physician will recommend a bone marrow collection, or a dual-source collection that banks both tissue types in one visit.

Bone marrow aspiration is a quick outpatient draw from the iliac crest (hip) under local anesthetic, typically about 15 minutes. Adipose collection uses fat tissue from a liposuction or aesthetic procedure you are already planning, often tissue that would otherwise be discarded. Clinic add-on banking (for example during liposuction) is arranged through that clinic, not as a self-serve Forever Labs checkout.

Question 41

Can I get a refund, use insurance, or cancel my membership?

Accepted Answer

All sales are final except as described in our terms: if you request a refund within three (3) days after paying for your procedure and before the procedure takes place, you receive a full refund of the procedure fee. Terminations outside that window do not receive refunds, to the extent permitted by law.

You can cancel a recurring storage subscription at any time by contacting us at info@foreverlabs.com. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current paid term.

Memberships are HSA/FSA eligible, and Annual and Lifetime plans offer monthly installments through Klarna or Affirm. Contact our team if a plan administrator or insurer needs documentation. We do not publish coupon codes on the site; a specialist can review current offers on a consult. Employer plans are quoted through /contact — not self-serve checkout.

Question 42

How do I find a clinic — or join the network as a provider?

Accepted Answer

Stem cell collection happens at a partner physician office in our nationwide network — not at the Ann Arbor lab. You choose your collection physician; the visit is included in stem cell membership. Search foreverlabs.com/clinics-locations or the provider directory at /providers/network. If nothing is nearby, a consult can help with travel or timing. Blood and fibroblasts don't need a clinic: blood is drawn at home by a licensed phlebotomist in all 50 states, or at a Quest or Labcorp location near you, and fibroblasts are collected by a registered nurse or dermatologist.

Licensed physicians who want to offer collection can apply at foreverlabs.com/providers.

Question 43

Can I gift stem cell banking or bank for a parent?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There is no upper age limit in our published terms. We enroll adults 18 and older — including parents and older relatives. Younger cells are generally more potent, so sooner is better, but age is a floor, not a cutoff.

What we store is always that person’s own cells (autologous). “Can I use someone else’s stem cells?” is about donor cells as a therapy, not about who pays. You cannot put another person’s sample on your account as if it were yours, and we generally do not accept vials transferred from other biobanks.

The terms do not forbid paying for another adult’s membership. Collection, medical consent, and the lab record have to be in that adult’s name — they are the member whose biology is stored. Privacy policy requires information you submit to be true and accurate, and we process health and genetic data with consent, so do not enroll a parent under your login or reuse their data as your own. A consult can set up payer vs member.

Using your already-banked cells for a family member is a separate physician-directed decision. Autologous cells are the best match and lowest rejection risk.

Question 44

How do I update my payment method?

Accepted Answer

You can update your payment method any time from your client dashboard — no need to call or email.

1. Go to foreverlabs.com and click Client Login (header or footer).
2. Sign in with Continue with Google, or enter your email and click Send Magic Link.
3. On your dashboard, scroll to Payment Information ("Your billing details").
4. Click Update.
5. Choose how you'd like to pay: Card (includes a $7.50 fee), Bank (avoids the card fee), or PayPal.
6. Your new payment method appears under Payment Information. If you have more than one method on file, you can set one as default or remove methods you no longer need.

Note: If your subscription has an unpaid invoice, you'll see Payment Required on your dashboard and can update/pay right there before the rest of your dashboard unlocks.

Question 45

How do I manage billing, a missed payment, or my login?

Accepted Answer

Update your payment method any time from the client dashboard: Client Login → Payment Information → Update. You can pay by card, bank, or PayPal. If a subscription has an unpaid invoice, the dashboard shows Payment Required until you update or pay — then the rest of the dashboard unlocks.

Sign in with Continue with Google, or enter your email and send a magic link. To cancel storage billing, email info@foreverlabs.com; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current paid term.

Question 46

Why not just collect my cells later?

Accepted Answer

Your cells age with you. Marrow stem cells, for example, fall roughly 1,000-fold in frequency from birth to age 80 (Caplan 2007; Stolzing 2008), and whichever collection you choose, a cell banked younger carries less accumulated damage than the same cell collected decades later. We welcome people of all ages, but every year you wait means banking older cells.

Question 47

Can't future medicine just fix my old cells?

Accepted Answer

Many exciting innovations are on the horizon. One example is senolytics — drugs that can kill and remove senescent cells from the body. But removal is not the same as restoration.

Reprogramming may one day mean we can rewind a cell’s age, yet nothing removes the mutations a cell has already accumulated. The best solution for your long-term health is to use your younger, healthier cells to repair damage and fight age-related disease.

Question 48

Is this a guaranteed treatment?

Accepted Answer

No. Many of our members and our own team have experienced very positive outcomes from regenerative procedures, and in many cases we would recommend them as an alternative to surgical or pharmaceutical intervention.

That said, no treatment is ever guaranteed to work, and we will never tell you otherwise. Forever Labs banks and stores your cells; any future use is directed by your physician.

Question 49

Does the collection hurt?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the collection. Blood is a standard draw of about 15 minutes, at home or at a lab. For fibroblasts, a registered nurse or dermatologist numbs a small area of your inner upper arm and takes a punch a few millimeters wide, closed with one or two stitches. Stem cells are collected in a short outpatient procedure under local anesthetic: the collection takes about 15 minutes, you're typically in and out within about an hour, and most people resume normal activities within 24–48 hours.

Question 50

Can I bank with Forever Labs if I live outside the United States?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as you're comfortable having your cells stored here: every sample is cryopreserved and stored in our ISO-accredited biorepository in the United States. Collection happens in the U.S., so international members schedule it during a U.S. visit.

Question 51

Which collection should I start with?

Accepted Answer

Blood is the easiest place to start: a 15-minute draw at home, with no procedure. Fibroblasts add a lasting bank of skin cells from a quick punch. Stem cell storage is our most complete collection, led by a physician in our network. Many members bank more than one, and combined plans share a single storage fee.

Question 52

Can I bank more than one collection?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many members bank more than one, and combined plans share a single storage fee.

Blood + Fibroblasts is $2,000 Annual (then $500/yr) or $10,500 Lifetime. Blood + Stem cells is $3,500 Annual (then $500/yr) or $12,500 Lifetime. The Trifecta covers blood, fibroblasts and stem cells, with Lifetime from $18,000.

Question 53

What's the difference between Annual and Lifetime?

Accepted Answer

Annual includes your collection and first year of storage, then renews each year. Lifetime covers storage for life with no annual fees, and includes the Complete Baseline.

Question 54

Is it too late to bank at 50 or 60?

Accepted Answer

No. Your cells are older than they were, but they're the youngest they'll ever be from here on. Banking now preserves them at today's age.

Question 55

Who owns my sample and my data?

Accepted Answer

You do. We are the custodian. Your service agreement sets out ownership, release conditions and procedures in detail.

Question 56

What do you store from a blood draw?

Accepted Answer

We don't store whole blood for transfusion. We cryopreserve the parts that matter for your future: living immune cells, plasma, and DNA, all from a specific date.

One draw fills fourteen tubes: 6 immune-cell (PBMC) vials of living white blood cells, isolated from the buffy coat, including cells suitable for reprogramming research; 4 plasma aliquots, with proteins and cell-free DNA from a specific date; and 4 RNA-stabilized whole-blood tubes that stabilize your RNA at the moment of the draw.

Each draw is dated and stored as its own vintage. Future draws add new vintages and never replace the first. Learn more about Blood Storage.

Question 57

How much blood do you take?

Accepted Answer

About 60 mL, or roughly four tablespoons. We send your phlebotomist the collection tubes, including RNA-stabilizing tubes, so we can store your RNA as well as your immune cells, plasma and DNA.

Question 58

Is at-home blood collection available everywhere?

Accepted Answer

Yes. At-home collection is available in all 50 states. If a mobile appointment isn't available where you are, you can have your blood drawn at a Quest or Labcorp location near you.

Question 59

Can I bank blood more than once?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many members bank a new vintage every few years so they have more than one reference point. Each draw is dated and stored as its own vintage, and future draws never replace the first.

Question 60

Why store RNA as well as DNA?

Accepted Answer

Your DNA is the code you were born with. Your RNA shows which genes your cells are actually using at a given moment. RNA degrades within hours after a normal blood draw, so we collect it in separate tubes that preserve it from the start.

Question 61

How much does blood storage cost?

Accepted Answer

Annual is $500 and covers collection and your first year of storage, then renews at $300 a year. Lifetime is $5,000 and all-inclusive: collection, processing, storage for life, and your Complete Baseline. Klarna or Affirm are available at checkout.

Question 62

Does fibroblast collection hurt? Will it scar?

Accepted Answer

The collector numbs a small area of your inner upper arm first. You'll feel a quick pinch and a brief sting from the numbing injection, then nothing during the collection. The punch is a few millimeters wide and is usually closed with 1–2 stitches. It leaves a small scar that usually fades to a fine, pale mark over the following year.

Question 63

What's the aftercare after a fibroblast skin punch?

Accepted Answer

Keep the bandage on and the area dry for 24 to 48 hours. After that, wash gently, apply petroleum jelly, and cover it with a fresh bandage each day until it heals, usually one to two weeks. Call your collector if you notice increasing redness, warmth, swelling or discharge.

Question 64

When are my fibroblasts expanded?

Accepted Answer

Only when they're used. We cryopreserve your fibroblasts unexpanded, right after isolating them from the punch. When a vial is requested for a specific use, it's thawed and the cells are grown to the number that use needs.

Questions, answered

Age Requirements

Collection Methods

Procedure Details

Safety & Risks

Research & Benefits

Storage Technology

Retrieval Process

Storage Frequency

Usage Timeline

Compatibility

Company Services

Business Continuity

Regulatory Approval

Medical Usage

Family Usage

Support

General

Still have questions?