The number shown beside “stem cell therapy” is therefore not enough to compare two clinics. Before comparing stem cell treatment costs in Japan, check the screening fee, possible extra-test charges, what happens if treatment cannot continue, and what follow-up will cost.
What the Price Actually Covers
A package that says “blood tests included” may cover only the tests required before treatment. A second test after an abnormal result, a repeat test after a delay, or blood work during follow-up may still be charged separately.
| Stage | What May Be Tested | Possible Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Initial screening | Blood count and basic blood chemistry | Included or separate |
| Infection screening | HIV, hepatitis, syphilis and other protocol-specific tests | Included or separate |
| Extra testing | A more specific test after an unclear or abnormal result | Often extra |
| Repeat testing | Tests repeated after a delay or change in health | May be charged again |
| Follow-up | Blood tests after treatment | Depends on the plan |
Treatment using your own cells can involve blood screening, fat collection, cell processing and administration on different dates. These steps are explained in the stem cell treatment process in Japan. When asking for a price, find out which of those stages are already covered.
Included vs Separate Billing
A treatment document published in Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) e-Regenerative Medicine database describes cultured autologous fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells for ligament and tendon injuries. The stated price is ¥1.1 million per treated area, tax included. Blood tests and fat collection are included.[1]
Travel and transportation are not included. The document also says the treatment is self-pay. If screening shows that the patient cannot proceed before fat collection, examination costs already incurred still have to be paid.[1]
Another treatment document in the MHLW database lists the laboratory and treatment charges separately:
| Item | Published Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial infectious-disease screening | ¥18,612 |
| HCV-RNA quantitative test or HCV core antigen, if required | ¥9,328 |
| HTLV-1 proviral DNA test, if required | ¥33,000 |
| Mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic-acid test, if required | ¥14,080 |
| One stem cell treatment | ¥3,960,000 |
The ¥3,960,000 treatment includes the fat-sampling fee, but the infection screening is separate.[2]
These are prices from specific treatment documents, not a national price list. Another clinic, cell type or treatment protocol can use a different fee structure.
When ¥18,612 Becomes ¥51,612
The ¥18,612 infection-screening fee in the second treatment plan is the starting laboratory charge. If the first result needs a more specific test, the total changes:
| Testing Scenario | Calculated Laboratory Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial screening only | ¥18,612 |
| Initial screening + ¥9,328 HCV test | ¥27,940 |
| Initial screening + ¥14,080 Mycoplasma test | ¥32,692 |
| Initial screening + ¥33,000 HTLV-1 test | ¥51,612 |
These totals are calculated from the published fees. They do not mean every patient needs an extra test or that all additional tests will be ordered together.
The initial ¥18,612 screening fee is about 0.47% of the ¥3.96 million treatment price. Adding the ¥33,000 HTLV-1 test raises the laboratory total to ¥51,612, about 1.30% of the treatment fee.
The blood-test bill may therefore be small compared with the treatment itself, but an abnormal result can still change the treatment date, add another test, or stop the procedure.
Tests That Can Appear on the Bill
There is no single blood-test panel for every stem cell treatment in Japan. The doctor chooses tests based on the treatment, cell source, collection method and the patient’s health.
Most examples here involve autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Put simply, the cells come from the patient’s own fat. A treatment using donor cells can follow a different process. The difference between autologous and allogeneic stem cells is worth checking before comparing two prices.
| Test Group | Examples | Why It May Be Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Blood count | Red cells, white cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets | Checks basic blood-cell measurements before treatment |
| Liver-related tests | ALT, AST, bilirubin, albumin, ALP, GGT | Identifies findings that may need further medical review |
| Kidney and metabolic tests | Creatinine, electrolytes, glucose | Checks kidney function and general metabolic status |
| Clotting tests | PT, INR, PTT or other coagulation tests | Can matter before fat collection or another invasive procedure |
| Infection tests | Depends on the protocol | Checks infections relevant to treatment or cell processing |
A complete blood count commonly measures red and white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin and hematocrit.[3] Liver panels can include ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, albumin and other measurements.[4]
One abnormal number does not tell you by itself whether treatment is possible. The doctor has to read the result together with the treatment plan and the rest of your medical information. The stem cell therapy indications and contraindications page covers the wider eligibility questions.
8 Infection Checks in One Published Protocol
One MHLW-published treatment protocol lists eight infection-related screening items:
- HIV antigen/antibody;
- HCV antibody;
- HBs antigen;
- HBe antigen;
- HTLV-I antibody;
- syphilis by RPR;
- syphilis by TPHA;
- Mycoplasma.
The same protocol lists three types of additional testing after certain findings: further HCV testing, HTLV-1 DNA testing and Mycoplasma nucleic-acid testing.[2]
That does not mean every patient receives 11 tests. The 8 items are the initial infection screen in that protocol; the other 3 are used only when the first results make further checking necessary.
If Screening Finds a Problem
An abnormal result can lead to a repeat test, a more specific test, another medical assessment, a delay, or a decision not to continue.
One MHLW treatment document states that important findings from pre-treatment blood tests are reported to the patient and that some findings can make the patient unsuitable for that treatment.[1]
The second treatment document says its blood-test assessment takes about one week.[2] That timing belongs to this protocol; it is not a one-week rule for every clinic in Japan.
If treatment stops at this stage, ask what has already become payable. Screening may cost much less than the stem cell procedure, but those charges do not automatically disappear because you were not cleared for treatment.
30–40 mL May Be for Cell Processing
Not every blood draw is a diagnostic test.
One MHLW-published protocol collects up to 30 mL of blood because the patient’s own serum components are used during that cell-culture process.[2]
Another published protocol uses about 40 mL of blood for cell culturing.[1]
These figures come from different protocols, so they do not conflict.
- Screening blood: used to check health or infection status.
- Processing-related blood: collected because that cell-processing method uses the patient’s blood or serum.
If cultured cells are part of the treatment, ask whether the work done by the CPC cell processing center, including processing and related collection steps, is already covered by the treatment price.
When You May Pay for a Second Test
- The first result needs confirmation.
- The treatment date is delayed.
- Your health changes while waiting.
- You develop a new illness or infection.
- The doctor considers an older result no longer recent enough.
- Cell collection and administration take place far apart.
There is no single validity period for every stem cell blood test. Ask how long each result will be accepted and what a repeat test will cost if the schedule changes.
Using Blood Tests From Your Home Country
Recent tests from your home country may save time, but the Japanese clinic may accept only part of the report and repeat the tests required by its own protocol.
Send the complete report with:
- your full name;
- sample collection date;
- hospital or laboratory name;
- test names;
- measured values;
- units;
- reference ranges where relevant.
A screenshot containing only a few selected results may not give the doctor enough information. Before traveling, ask exactly which tests can be accepted, which must be repeated in Japan, and whether an English report is enough.
Keep copies of tests performed in Japan as well. Your doctor at home or another treatment team may need them later.
A 3–4 Day Trip May Be Too Short
The protocol with the ¥18,612 infection-screening fee says its blood-test assessment takes about one week.[2]
A patient planning only 3–4 days in Japan should not assume there will be enough time for the blood draw, result review and tissue collection. The 3–4 days is a travel example, not a fixed treatment rule.
Before buying flights, confirm:
- the blood-draw date;
- normal result turnaround time;
- when the doctor reviews the results;
- whether review must happen before fat collection;
- whether rapid testing is available;
- whether rapid testing costs extra;
- whether screening and collection can happen during the same trip.
The medical travel guide for stem cell treatment in Japan covers the wider scheduling issues for overseas patients.
Check the 1, 3 and 6 Month Costs
One MHLW-published treatment plan asks patients to cooperate with examinations at about:
- 1 month after treatment;
- 3 months after treatment;
- 6 months after treatment.
The document also allows telephone monitoring when regular visits are difficult.[1]
This is the follow-up schedule for one protocol, not a national rule. The quote should state whether it covers the follow-up consultation, planned blood tests, and any extra testing ordered after a new finding.
What You Still Pay If Treatment Stops
In the ¥1.1 million treatment example, a patient who is found unsuitable before fat collection still pays the examination costs already incurred.[1]
The same document says that costs already incurred, including cell-culture costs where applicable, remain payable if consent is withdrawn. If the patient withdraws during cell processing, costs incurred up to that stage are payable and the remaining amount is refunded. Same-day cancellation is not refundable under that treatment plan.[1]
Those rules belong to this specific plan. Another provider can use different terms.
Get the refund rules before these points:
- after consultation and blood testing;
- after fat or tissue collection;
- after cell processing or culture begins.
Four Numbers to Get Before Paying
| Number to Check | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Screening cost | Consultation, blood tests and other checks before eligibility is confirmed |
| Normal treatment cost | Collection, processing and administration where applicable |
| Possible extra-test cost | Repeat or confirmatory laboratory work |
| Cost through follow-up | Planned visits and laboratory testing after treatment |
In the ¥3.96 million example, the laboratory bill starts at ¥18,612. Adding the highest listed single extra test increases that total to ¥51,612, a difference of ¥33,000.
That information is more useful than comparing two headline treatment prices without knowing what each package contains.
Eight Questions to Send the Clinic
- What exact blood tests are required?
- Which tests are already included in the treatment price?
- What additional tests may be needed after an abnormal result?
- How much does each additional test cost?
- How long will my existing results be accepted?
- Which recent tests from my home country can be used?
- What will I still have to pay if screening shows that treatment cannot proceed?
- What is the expected total cost through the planned follow-up?
If treatment uses your own cells, also check whether fat collection, cell processing and storage are included in the wider stem cell treatment cost.
Price Transparency Is Not Treatment Approval
A detailed quote and a long blood-test list do not prove that a treatment works for your condition.
PMDA explains that Japan uses different regulatory frameworks for regenerative medicine. The Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine covers areas including regenerative medicine provided in clinical practice and research, while the PMD Act regulates commercialization of regenerative medical products.[7]
The amended Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine came into force on May 31, 2025.[8]
A regenerative medicine provision plan under the Safety Act is not the same as PMDA marketing approval of a regenerative medical product.[7]
If a clinic says a treatment is “approved in Japan,” ask what that statement refers to. The Japan regenerative medicine registration and compliance page explains the difference between these routes. Pricing and regulatory status should also be kept separate from treatment safety; the stem cell therapy safety guide covers that issue separately.
FAQ
Do I need to fast before the blood test?
It depends on the tests ordered. Some metabolic tests may require fasting. MedlinePlus notes that a basic metabolic panel may require about 8 hours of fasting in some situations.[5] Follow the clinic’s instructions instead of fasting automatically.
Does paying for the blood test mean I have been accepted for treatment?
No. Blood testing can be part of the eligibility check. One MHLW-published document states that findings from pre-treatment testing can make a patient unsuitable for that treatment.[1]
Can only one abnormal test be repeated?
Sometimes. The doctor may repeat one specific test or order one more specific test instead of repeating the full panel. A long delay or a change in health may require broader testing.
Are clotting tests the same as a platelet count?
No. Platelets are counted as part of a CBC. Tests such as PTT measure how long the blood takes to clot.[6] A treatment plan may use both.
Does Japanese health insurance cover these blood tests?
Do not assume it does. The ¥1.1 million treatment example states that the treatment is not covered by insurance and that the patient pays the full treatment cost, with blood tests included in that self-pay fee.[1] Another treatment or another reason for testing may be billed differently.
Finally
Ask for the blood-test costs before paying a treatment deposit. The published examples here show why: one ¥1.1 million plan already includes blood testing and fat collection, while another starts with a separate ¥18,612 infection screen beside a ¥3.96 million treatment. In that second plan, one extra test can raise the laboratory total to ¥51,612. Also check timing: one protocol takes about one week to assess blood results, while another uses follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months. Get the test list, repeat-test fees, refund rules and follow-up costs in writing before treatment starts.