Stem Cell Consultation Checklist: 47 Questions to Ask Before You Book
A stem cell therapy consultation is not a sales pitch — it is a medical evaluation. The questions you ask determine whether you are making an informed decision or being sold a treatment. This checklist covers every critical area. Print it, bring it to your consultation (in person or virtual), and do not proceed until you have satisfactory answers.
The quality of a stem cell clinic is best revealed by how they respond to informed questions. A good clinic welcomes scrutiny. A poor clinic deflects, pressures, or makes promises without evidence. How they handle these 47 questions tells you more than their website ever will.
Section 1: Physician Credentials (Questions 1–8)
- What is the treating physician's medical specialty and board certification?
- How many years has the physician been performing stem cell procedures specifically?
- How many patients with my specific condition has the physician treated?
- What is the physician's institutional affiliation?
- Has the physician published peer-reviewed research on stem cell therapy?
- Is the physician involved in any registered clinical trials?
- Who performs the actual injection or infusion — the consulting physician or someone else?
- What continuing education in regenerative medicine has the physician completed recently?
Section 2: Cell Source and Processing (Questions 9–20)
- What type of cells will be used (autologous bone marrow, autologous adipose, allogeneic umbilical cord, other)?
- If allogeneic: where is the donor tissue sourced, and how are donors screened?
- Are the cells culture-expanded, or used as point-of-care concentrate?
- What is the target cell count for my treatment?
- How is cell viability tested, and what is the minimum viability threshold?
- Is the processing lab GMP-certified or equivalent?
- Can you provide a Certificate of Analysis for the cell product?
- What sterility testing is performed (bacteria, fungi, mycoplasma, endotoxin)?
- Is karyotype analysis (chromosomal normality testing) performed?
- How are cells stored and transported to the point of care?
- If cryopreserved: what is the post-thaw viability?
- What is the regulatory basis for offering this treatment (INVIMA protocol, institutional approval)?
Section 3: Evidence and Expectations (Questions 21–30)
- What is the evidence level (1–4) for stem cell therapy for my specific condition?
- Can you cite specific published studies supporting this treatment for my condition?
- What is your clinic's own outcome data for patients with my condition?
- What percentage of patients with my condition show meaningful improvement?
- What percentage show no improvement?
- What does "improvement" mean for my condition — what outcome measures do you use?
- When should I expect to notice improvement?
- How long do results typically last?
- What happens if the treatment does not work for me?
- Are there conditions you do NOT treat? (If they say "none," consider that a red flag.)
Be concerned if the clinic responds with: 'Everyone responds,' 'We have a 95% success rate' (without published data to support this), 'We treat all conditions,' 'The research speaks for itself' (without citing specific studies for your condition), or pressure to book immediately. These are marketing tactics, not medical answers.
Section 4: Safety and Risk (Questions 31–38)
- What are the known risks and side effects of this specific procedure?
- Have you ever had a patient experience a serious adverse event? What happened?
- What emergency protocols are in place if a complication occurs during treatment?
- Do you have hospital transfer agreements in case of emergency?
- What screening do you perform to determine if I am a good candidate (imaging, labs, medical history)?
- What are the contraindications for this treatment?
- How do you handle patients with cancer history?
- Will my current medications interact with the treatment?
Section 5: Cost and Logistics (Questions 39–47)
- What is the total, all-inclusive cost of the treatment?
- What does the quoted price include (consultation, imaging, cells, injection, follow-up)?
- Are there any additional costs not included in the initial quote?
- What is the cancellation and refund policy?
- How many days do I need to plan for in the city?
- Do you provide post-treatment follow-up, and is it included in the price?
- Can I get follow-up care from my US physician, and will you coordinate?
- Will you provide complete medical records of the treatment for my US physician?
- What documentation will you provide for HSA/FSA reimbursement or tax deduction purposes?
Estimates based on review of 30+ regenerative clinic websites and published patient experience reports.
How to Use This Checklist
You do not need to ask all 47 questions in a single consultation. Start with the sections most relevant to your situation: evidence and expectations (Section 3) if you are still deciding whether to pursue treatment; cell processing (Section 2) if you are choosing between clinics; safety (Section 4) if you have complicating health conditions.
A good clinic will welcome these questions and provide clear, documented answers. If a clinic is evasive, defensive, or rushed, that tells you what you need to know. Your body, your money, your decision — but an informed decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. In fact, this is recommended. Sending your questions in advance allows the clinic to prepare detailed answers, demonstrates your seriousness as a patient, and saves consultation time. A clinic that cannot or will not answer written questions in advance is raising a flag.
Not every clinic will have data on every question (smaller clinics may not track formal outcome measures, for example). The important thing is transparency about what they know and what they do not. Honest gaps are acceptable. Evasiveness is not.
Yes. We recommend consulting with at least two clinics before making a decision. Comparing answers to the same questions reveals differences in approach, transparency, and medical rigor.
Look for specificity over generality. A good answer cites specific evidence, quotes specific percentages from tracked outcomes, and acknowledges limitations. A poor answer uses vague language ('most patients improve'), cites no specific data, and avoids discussing non-response rates.
These questions apply to any stem cell clinic anywhere in the world. The principles of informed medical decision-making are universal. Regulatory questions (Section 2, question 20) should be adapted to the specific country's regulatory body.