Test results determining impact of Cordlife's mishandled cord blood units likely to be ready by end-March
“We understand that many parents are eager to know the outcome of the investigation and we seek their patience,” says the Ministry of Health.

File photo of a Cordlife counter at Parkway East Hospital.
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SINGAPORE: The final test results to determine the viability of mishandled cord blood units at private blood bank Cordlife is estimated to be ready in end-March, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday (Jan 26).
This is due to the third-party laboratory’s capacity constraints and the need to conduct further tests using additional samples from different parts of the tank to "ensure thoroughness" of the findings.
On Dec 8, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said investigations into Cordlife for the suboptimal storage temperature for the cord blood units (CBUs) would "take six weeks or so".
The company is under scrutiny after it was revealed that several storage tanks were exposed to temperatures above -150 degrees Celsius, the acceptable limit for cord blood units. This was made public on Nov 30 when MOH said Cordlife was being investigated.
About 2,200 cord blood units, which were stored in one of the seven affected tanks, were damaged. Another 17,000 clients could be affected, pending investigations.
Cordlife said in December that it would accept a six-month suspension given by the ministry.
“The results will be sent to an independent expert panel for further verification,” the ministry said. “The results for each tank will be progressively finalised, with the last results estimated to be ready in end-March 2024.”
It added the process is to ensure that “the outcomes of the study are conclusive and reliable, upon which clients can then make decisions”.
Cord blood samples from the remaining six affected tanks and dry shipper – which is intended for transport and not for long-term storage - have been sent to a third-party laboratory to test the viability and potency of the cord blood units.
MOH said this covers about 17,300 units, which belong to an estimated 17,050 clients, in the six affected tanks, as well as an estimated 2,400 units stored in the dry shipper.
“Preliminary investigations show that two of the six affected tanks, which stored about 2,300 cord blood units, were unlikely to be adversely affected by the temperature excursions,” it said.
“Results of the other tanks and dry shipper are not ready. MOH will await the testing results and the expert panel review to ascertain the impact of the temperature excursion on the affected tanks and dry shipper.”
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PARENTS ADVISED TO WAIT UNTIL REVIEW OF RESULTS
Repeat testing and further consultation with the panel of experts will be needed if the results for some of the samples are inconclusive, it added.
“We understand that many parents are eager to know the outcome of the investigation and we seek their patience,” MOH said.
“The transfer of CBUs to another cord blood bank carries risks and should be an option that is considered carefully, accompanied by detailed discussions with the receiving cord blood bank.
“Parents are advised to wait until the completion of the testing and review of the results.”
The ministry added that it is working closely with Cordlife to ensure that the company progressively updates its clients as the analysis for the affected tanks is completed. It will also guide parents on the transfer policy and processes where appropriate.
Earlier this week, MOH sent a letter to Cordlife, requiring the company to rectify, by May 31, a list of "potential non-compliances" with health regulations that the ministry has identified based on its inspections.
These include ineffective incident reporting frameworks, inadequate training and competence of staff, and the inappropriate storage of cord blood units, among others, said Cordlife.
MOH ordered Cordlife on Nov 30 to stop the collection, testing, processing and/or storage of any new cord blood and human tissues, or provide any new types of tests to patients, for a period of up to six months.
And in December, Cordlife’s cellular therapy accreditation was indefinitely suspended by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, a global non-profit corporation which conducts inspections and accreditation in cellular therapy.
Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary said on Jan 10 that MOH will review the regulatory requirements for cord blood banking, following Cordlife’s mishandling of cord blood units.