Cordlife learnt 'valuable lessons', implemented 'robust' measures in response to mishandling of cord blood units

SINGAPORE: Private cord blood bank Cordlife said it has learnt "valuable lessons" after a months-long suspension over its mishandling of cord blood units, and has implemented "robust" safety measures to comply with the Ministry of Health (MOH)'s regulatory requirements. 

These measures include an improved "lab monitoring system" that allows for real-time monitoring of its Singapore facility, it said on Friday (Aug 30) in response to CNA's queries.

The company added that it has also implemented more "robust failsafe measures" to ensure uninterrupted operations even under adverse conditions. It said its staff has received "extensive training", and the company has also hired more experienced technical personnel. 

On Thursday, Cordlife was given the green light by MOH to resume cord blood banking services in a limited manner. The company may collect, test, process and store no more than 30 units of new cord blood per month, from Sep 15, 2024, to Jan 13, 2025.

MOH asked Cordlife to adopt a "carefully calibrated approach to gradually ramp up the provision of its services to ensure the welfare of its customers".

To do so, Cordlife told CNA it would prioritise the retraining of obstetricians in Singapore to keep them fully updated with its latest standard operating procedures regarding cord blood collection and also continuously train its staff to maintain their competence and expertise. 

The company added that it would gradually resume its educational activities to raise awareness about the benefits of cord blood banking. During those activities, it would also seek to assure parents that it has "taken all failsafe measures to safeguard their child's cord blood unit". 

"We aim to demonstrate to MOH that these improvements are sustainable beyond the four-month period," said Cordlife.

It added that it would work closely with the ministry to arrange for an inspection before its next cord blood banking licence renewal, which is on Jan 13, 2025.

Cordlife is Singapore's longest-running private cord blood bank, having being incorporated in 2001. It listed on the Singapore Exchange mainboard in 2012.

In November 2023, it was found that seven of its storage tanks were exposed to temperatures above acceptable limits. About 2,200 cord blood units were damaged in the first tank, affecting at least 2,150 clients.

Cordlife was hit with a six-month suspension in December 2023.

In April this year, MOH said that another 5,300 cord blood units stored in a second tank and dry shipper were deemed "non-viable".

The six-month extension was then extended by another three months on Jun 15 this year for Cordlife to complete the validation of its new cord blood processing method.

Follow-up audits conducted by MOH in August showed that Cordlife has met the essential requirements to resume its provision of cord blood banking services. It was then given the green light to resume cord blood banking services in a limited manner.