Shocking Revelation: Thousands of Damaged Umbilical Cord Blood Samples Exposed by Singapore’s Ministry of Health

In January 2024, a shocking discovery was made by Singapore’s Ministry of Health – thousands of units of umbilical cord blood stored at Cordlife were damaged and unviable due to insufficient liquid nitrogen in the storage tanks since November 2020. This incident has caused outrage among parents who had paid to store their newborn babies’ umbilical cords and cord blood at Cordlife’s facilities.

The goal was to use 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. However, the incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of storing umbilical cord blood, with many questioning whether it is worth the cost.

Cordlife filed a report with the police department, accusing employees of violating procedures and several board members were arrested. The investigation into Cordlife’s storage facilities continues, with some samples still usable and more testing 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.

This scandal is considered the worst in the industry according to Bloomberg, raising concerns about private cord blood banks and their cost-effectiveness. Medical organizations do not support private cord blood banks questioning whether it is necessary for parents to store their children’s cord blood. 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. The incident highlights the challenges of monitoring the industry and