Fetal tissue supplier billed $765 procurement fee per organ, warns records could imply illegal sales: records

Newly obtained public records reveal that Cercle Allocation Services billed a UCLA research operation a $765 procurement service fee for each individual liver and thymus specimen. Internal correspondence from Cercle warned that certain billing language could improperly imply the tissue itself was being sold, which is illegal. The records do not establish that UCLA or Cercle engaged in illegal or unethical conduct, as Cercle characterized the payments as fees for procurement services, not for the tissue itself.

• Cercle Allocation Services billed a UCLA research operation a $765 procurement service fee per liver and thymus specimen.
• Internal correspondence from Cercle expressed concern that billing language could imply the tissue itself was being sold, which is illegal.
• Cercle stated the payments were for procurement services, not for the tissue, and requested purchase orders be rephrased to reflect this.
• Federal law prohibits the transfer of human fetal tissue for ‘valuable consideration’ but allows reasonable payments for associated costs.
• The records do not establish that Cercle or UCLA violated federal law, as they have not been accused or charged with illegal conduct.
• David Daleiden’s Center for Medical Progress obtained the records through a California Public Records Act request.