Most descriptions of MSC therapy stop at biology. What patients travelling to Bangkok usually want is the logistics: what has to be done before arrival, what actually happens on the day, and what is expected of them afterwards. That is what this walkthrough covers.
Before You Arrive: Records and Screening
- Diagnosis confirmation, specialist letters and recent imaging reports
- Current medication list, including anticoagulants and immunosuppressants
- Screening bloods: full blood count, renal and liver function, inflammatory markers
- Infection screening as required by the protocol
- A written eligibility decision before travel is booked
Being declined at this stage is a good sign about the programme, not a bad one. What to gather before departure is listed in our medical travel checklist.
What Happens on the Laboratory Side
- Cells are expanded in a controlled facility to the planned dose
- Identity and characterisation tests confirm the cells are what the label says
- Viability is measured close to the point of release
- Sterility, mycoplasma and endotoxin testing must pass before release
- A release certificate is issued and travels with the product
Treatment dates depend on this schedule, which is why appointments are confirmed rather than fixed months ahead. Source considerations are compared in UC-MSC versus autologous cells.
Treatment Day, Hour by Hour
- Arrival, consent review and a final medical check including vital signs
- Confirmation of the lot number and release documentation against your file
- Cannulation and, where used, a hydration or pre-medication step
- Slow administration by infusion, or targeted injection where the protocol requires it
- Continuous observation, with the rate adjusted if anything is not tolerated
- Post-administration observation before discharge, with written instructions
Expected and unexpected reactions are described in our article on stem cell therapy side effects.
The Full Timeline at a Glance
| Stage | What happens | Who leads it |
|---|---|---|
| Records review | Eligibility assessed from history and imaging | Treating physician |
| Screening | Bloods and infection screen completed | Clinical team |
| Lot release | Viability and sterility testing signed off | Laboratory |
| Administration | Monitored infusion or targeted injection | Physician and nursing team |
| Observation | Vital signs and symptoms recorded before discharge | Nursing team |
| Review | Scheduled assessment against baseline measures | Treating physician |
Any stage missing from a proposed plan is worth asking about directly before you commit to travel.
Aftercare and the First Two Weeks
- Rest on the day of treatment; tiredness is commonly reported
- Hydration and a temporary reduction in strenuous training
- Clear instructions on which medications to resume and when
- A named contact for symptoms that need review
- Rehabilitation or lifestyle measures where the indication calls for them
For musculoskeletal indications, the rehabilitation plan carries as much weight as the administration itself — see our joint pain programme.
Follow-Up After You Travel Home
- A discharge summary you can hand to your own physician
- Documented lot details, route, dose and any reactions observed
- Scheduled remote reviews at defined intervals
- The same baseline measures repeated, so change is measurable
- A stated position on whether anything would be repeated, and on what basis
Programme structure at MRC Healthcare is described on our MSC therapy page.
Find Out Whether You Are Eligible Before You Travel
Send your records for review and our physicians will confirm eligibility and the proposed schedule in writing.
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