9 Steps to Stop the Time of Your Cells
From the initial assessment of the sample cryopreserved in Switzerland to the potential reprogramming into iPSC cells: here is, step by step, what happens to your cells.
A clear pathway, designed for real life
EternaCell’s process has been designed so that you can make an important choice without unnecessary complications: it all starts with an evaluation, involves a single blood draw, and leads to the cryopreservation of your cells in a Swiss biobank, ready to engage with the medicine of the future.
We start with a basic clinical evaluation: we gather essential information about your health history to verify that the sample meets the necessary quality standards and that MyCells is suitable for you.
At this stage, you will also receive a clear explanation of the benefits, limitations, and potential future scenarios, ensuring your choice is informed, not impulsive.
Specific blood tests are performed to exclude active infections or conditions that could compromise the safety of the sample.
This step is designed to protect you and the clinical value of your cells over time.
A nurse performs a venous blood draw at home or at an affiliated facility, using closed and sterile systems.
The experience is comparable to a routine blood test, but the value is different: it is the act of starting to set aside your youngest cells.
The sample is entrusted to a dedicated courier who rapidly transports it to the laboratories in Switzerland, maintaining controlled temperature and security conditions.
Each sample is tracked with unique codes, ensuring the entire process is monitorable and documented.
At the Eternacell/SSCB laboratories, blood is processed to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the fraction with the highest potential for reprogramming into iPSCs.
Cells are purified and prepared following standardized procedures to ensure quality, viability, and traceability.
PBMCs are cryopreserved at temperatures below −170/−180 °C in our Swiss biobank, which is certified to GMP standards.
In this state of ‘pause,’ the cells maintain over time the biological characteristics present at the moment of collection, without undergoing the natural deterioration associated with age and the environment.
The service includes a minimum of 20 years of storage, extendable upon expiration, with the sample always remaining your property.
If, in the future, there is a clinical indication and approved protocols, the cryopreserved cells may be thawed and reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), in line with the progress that is already leading to the first authorized therapies.
iPSCs are ‘master’ cells, capable of long-term proliferation and differentiation into all cell types that make up the human body.
A portion of the iPSCs can be cryopreserved as an additional pluripotent reserve for future use.
Another portion can be differentiated into specific cells – for example neurons, cardiac cells, or pancreatic cells – according to the requirements of the therapeutic protocol.
When authorized therapies exist and a clinical team defines an indication, differentiated cells can be used in personalized treatments at specialized centers and in compliance with current regulations.
In all these scenarios, the distinctive element is the raw material: your cells, preserved young and compatible with your body.
Not sure yet?
We have compiled a guide on how Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) are transforming the world of therapeutic approaches. It is a straightforward way to thoughtfully consider a decision that concerns your biological future.