In Singapore, thousands of parents are considering legal action after their children’s umbilical cord blood samples stored at Cordlife were damaged. The incident, which has been deemed the worst in the industry by Bloomberg, has raised concerns about the effectiveness of storing umbilical cord blood.
For years, parents in Singapore have paid to store their newborn babies’ umbilical cords and cord blood at Cordlife’s facilities with the goal of using stem cells in the umbilical cord to treat illnesses if their child got sick. Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells that can be used to treat various diseases such as cancers, blood diseases, and immune disorders.
In January 2024, Singapore’s Ministry of Health discovered that thousands of units of umbilical cord blood were damaged and unviable due to insufficient liquid nitrogen in the storage tanks since November 2020. Cordlife filed a report with the police department accusing employees of violating procedures and several board members were arrested.
The incident has caused customers in other regions to question the safety and effectiveness of private cord blood banks. 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, questioning the cost-effectiveness and necessity of storing cord blood.
As investigations continue into Cordlife’s storage facilities, some samples remain usable while more testing is required to determine the extent of the damage. Parents who have stored their children’s cord blood are experiencing anxiety as they watch the situation unfold.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by both private businesses and government agencies when it comes to regulating an industry with high costs and potential risks involved.
Overall, this scandal raises questions about whether private companies are capable enough to handle such sensitive tasks while ensuring customer satisfaction and safety standards are met. It also highlights that medical organizations may need more regulation from governments or independent bodies before allowing them access to patients’ personal health information for commercial purposes.
Parents who have stored their children’s umbilical cord blood should consider alternative options if they wish to keep their child’s sample intact for future use or donation purposes.