In January 2024, the Ministry of Health in Singapore discovered that thousands of units of umbilical cord blood stored at Cordlife’s facilities were damaged and unviable due to insufficient liquid nitrogen in the storage tanks since November 2020. This incident, considered the worst in the industry, raised concerns about the effectiveness of storing umbilical cord blood.
For years, parents in Singapore had paid to store their newborn babies’ umbilical cords and cord blood at Cordlife’s facilities with the goal of using stem cells from the umbilical cord to treat illnesses if their child became sick. However, this incident has left customers wary and questioning whether private cord blood banks are cost-effective and necessary.
In response to the incident, a group of parents in Singapore is planning to take legal action against Cordlife, rejecting the company’s offer to reimburse damaged cord blood samples. Medical organizations do not support private cord blood banks, adding weight to these concerns.
The investigation into Cordlife’s storage facilities continues, with some samples still usable and more testing required to determine the extent of the damage. The incident highlights the challenges of monitoring the industry and the high cost of investigations when scandals occur. Parents who have stored their children’s cord blood are experiencing anxiety as they watch the situation unfold.
