Behind the Scenes of Stem Cell Banking: What Happens Between Collection and Storage

When we think about stem cell banking, we usually picture the procedure, not the lab.

But the work that happens after collection is just as important. We spoke with Chris Perria, Forever Labs’s laboratory director, about how stem cells are processed, tested, and prepared for long-term storage.

With a master's in Molecular Biology from Eastern Michigan University and over five years with the company, Chris has a front-row seat to one of the most exciting shifts in modern medicine — and he is sharing his POV with us.

First things first: What's, why’s and how's

They say a house is only as strong as its foundation, so in this episode of Future Proof with Forever Labs, Chris Perria walks us through the basis of science. 

He explains stem cells as blank-slate cells: biological building blocks that haven't yet committed to a specific role in the body. They’re the body’s raw material, able to become different types of cells depending on what’s needed.

At Forever Labs, the focus is on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are found in bone marrow and fat tissue. They can self-renew and turn into specialized cells such as bone, cartilage, and muscle. They can also help coordinate repair in surrounding tissue. That includes reducing inflammation, supporting healing, and encouraging new blood vessel growth.

In short, they don’t just sit there. They actively take part in how the body maintains and repairs itself.

But like everything else in the body, though, stem cells age. Over time, as they replicate, they accumulate DNA damage and diminish in function. “This process is called senescence,"says Chris. The cells are still present, but they don’t work as effectively as they once did.

That’s where timing becomes important. Many assume they’ll get around to stem cell banking later, when they feel healthier, more stable, or simply more ready. But biologically, the tradeoff is simple: the longer you wait, the more your stem cells risk declining in both volume and quality.

Banking stem cells isn’t just about storing them. It’s about preserving them at a point when they’re still strong, active, and useful.

When your cells arrive at the lab, Chris Perria is the first person to handle them. The process is consistent and carefully controlled. First, red blood cells are separated out. Then the stem cells are isolated from plasma, concentrated, and returned to a supportive environment.

From there, they go through a series of quality checks. There’s a cell count, a viability test using dye to identify any dying cells, and a final check under the microscope to confirm healthy growth. Bone marrow samples typically come in at around 95% viability. This is also when the “cellfie” is taken—a photo of your cell samples, confirming they made it through the cryopreservation process.

It’s precise work, and it’s not just internally trusted. Forever Labs is an ISO 20387-accredited biobank, which means it’s subject to third-party audits every two years. That certification was most recently renewed in March 2026.

Jupiter Lab Opening: Culture Expansion Changes Everything

Forever Lab's new facility in Jupiter, Florida, is nearing completion, and it represents a big step forward for what comes next: stem cell culture expansion.

Culture expansion is the process of taking stored stem cells and growing them into a larger, more active dose before treatment. When cells come out of cryopreservation, they’re dormant. Culture expansion reactivates them, multiplies them, and prepares them for use at a point when they’re biologically most effective.

The facility itself is being built as a clean room under FDA-aligned current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). It includes strict quality controls, flow cytometry testing to confirm MSC-specific markers, and protocols designed to filter out senescent cells before they ever reach a patient.

Neither hype nor hope

When he first joined Forever Labs in December 2019, Chris remembers that there weren't a lot of conversations about stem cells. "There was some research, but very little public awareness, and every discussion happened in the future, like in 5 or 10 years, you know? But things are happening now. We have orthopedic doctors and aesthetic doctors using stem cell treatments as we speak," says Chris.

From the lab he manages, Chris closes the conversation with the kind of clarity that cuts through the noise: "This is real science." It is a field backed by clinical trials, peer-reviewed literature, and a growing body of evidence that these cells can repair heart attack damage, support stroke recovery, address autoimmune conditions, and potentially eliminate the need for knee replacements altogether.

Science is moving fast. The regulatory landscape is catching up. And the cells that will power tomorrow's treatments? They're the ones you're walking around with today.