The Numbers Behind A Good Decision
Sterling does not invent its own science. We point guests at the same standards the published research uses — viability, source, preparation, and total cost — so the decision becomes clearer before any plane ticket is booked.
See the comparisonViability Beats Volume
The ISCT sets ≥80% viability as the regulatory floor for clinical MSC use. Sterling-certified partner clinics publish their numbers — viability, source, passage — so guests can read the science the way the science reads itself.
Read the full evidenceEverything Included
Discovery is structured to reduce surprise costs and decision pressure. Guests can see clearly what is included before they travel.
See what is includedQuestions Worth Asking
If a clinic cannot answer basic questions about standards, sourcing, viability, and total cost, that tells a guest something important.
Read the 12 questionsA Certificate, Not a Slogan
Every guest at a Sterling-certified partner clinic receives a Certificate of Analysis: cell count by flow cytometry, viability percentage, immunophenotype, sterility, endotoxin, and mycoplasma results. Documentation that travels with the batch.
Am I a Candidate?The Sterling-Certified Standard, Side by Side
| Factor | Sterling-certified Standard | Premium hospital Asia / Middle East / W. Europe | Budget tourism Latin America / SE Asia | Autologous-only N. America / Europe | Frozen mass-market Multi-country franchises |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell source | Neonatal UC-MSC | Mixed (UC-MSC, BM, adipose) | Often UC-MSC, source unclear | Adult bone marrow / adipose | Allogeneic UC-MSC, often shipped |
| Viability | ≥95% (flow cytometry, published) | Tested, rarely published | Typically not disclosed | Variable, age-dependent | Typically not disclosed |
| Preparation | Fresh, on-site, same-day | Mixed (fresh and frozen) | Frozen-shipped | Fresh, age-dependent quality | Activated post-thaw |
| Certificate of Analysis | Provided in advance | On request | Not standard | On request | Not standard |
| Pricing model | All-inclusive, disclosed in writing | Treatment fee + add-ons | Low entry price + add-ons | Per-procedure fees | Bundled but variable |
Provider categories are educational composites drawn from publicly available clinic data, peer-reviewed literature on MSC viability and donor age, and the Sterling research library. They describe how a category typically operates; individual providers within each category vary. Verify every claim directly with any clinic you consider, including the Sterling-certified partner clinics.
An educational model from the published research
Why 50 Million Fresh Cells Can Outperform 100 Million Frozen
The numbers below are an educational walkthrough of the model published in our research brief. They illustrate how three factors — viability, donor age, and secretome quality — compound when comparing cell preparations. They are not a clinical claim; the source citations are listed below the chart.
The ISCT sets ≥80% viability as the minimum threshold for clinical use of mesenchymal stromal cells (Viswanathan et al., Cytotherapy, 2019). Cell count alone is not a quality measure; it is one input into a model that also accounts for donor age, preparation, and the cells’ paracrine signalling capacity.
Sources for the model above
- Viswanathan S. et al., Cytotherapy 2019 — ISCT MSC nomenclature & viability threshold.
- Galipeau J., 2013 — post-thaw recovery requirements for cryopreserved MSCs.
- Brunello G. et al., Pharmaceutics 2022 — donor-age effects on MSC-derived exosomes.
- Troyer D. & Weiss M. — UC-MSC telomere length & proliferative capacity.
- Full reference list: research brief on fresh vs frozen stem cells.
Sterling was the first team that gave me a clear framework for what to ask, what to compare, and what actually mattered. That changed how I evaluated every other option.
Individual results may vary and are not guaranteed. Name changed for privacy.
Use clear standards to ask better questions
When you are ready, the strongest next step is still the free assessment. It helps turn general research into a more personal recommendation.