Cordlife Group Limited (“Cordlife” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), which has been approved to resume cord blood banking activities in Singapore in a controlled manner, today unveiled its enhanced processing and storage facility, featuring strengthened operational protocols and an advanced laboratory monitoring system, among other improvements.
Group Executive Director Ms Chen Xiaoling and Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Ivan Yiu said the intense rectification efforts leading up to the resumption of its services highlight Cordlife's commitment to rebuilding trust with clients in Singapore and laying a stronger foundation for future growth.
"We sincerely apologise for the distress the incident has caused. We are deeply grateful for the patience shown by our clients and the authorities. We drew support from external industry experts as part of our in-depth review,” said Ms Chen.
"After vigorous evaluation, the Board, which was reconstituted on 14 May, continues to identify safeguards to prevent such incidents from recurring. We are fully committed to making Cordlife safer, stronger, and more secure for the families who trust us with their children's future health," Ms Chen added.
Enhanced Lab Monitoring and Operational Resilience
A significant highlight of the enhanced 5,400 square feet (502 sqm) facility is its new laboratory monitoring system. This system tracks the temperature of 27 cryogenic storage tanks and other critical equipment, ensuring 24/7 real-time surveillance both on-site and remotely. It provides detailed alerts to technicians, supervisors, and management through multiple communication channels, with procedures in place to escalate issues to senior leadership if necessary.
To further safeguard operations and power supply, the monitoring system is equipped with its own power source, while other equipment in the facility is supported by multiple uninterruptible power supplies and a backup generator. Additionally, the Company has strengthened its core processes and implemented additional failsafe measures, such as assigning more technicians to be on duty after office hours, ensuring continuous operations under any circumstances.
Validated Cord Blood Processing Capabilities
The facility’s cord blood processing laboratory is equipped with four units of AXP® II system, a U.S. FDA-approved automated platform for processing cord blood. The Company has successfully completed validation of this system under the supervision of the Ministry of Health's (MOH) expert panel. The system’s advanced sensors ensure precise control during processing, allowing for a higher yield of viable stem cells, which is crucial for successful cord blood transplants. The Company has also refurbished its facility and plans to reorganise its key laboratory equipment to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
Staffing and Governance Enhancements
On human resources, Mr Yiu said, “To enhance operational capabilities and improve service quality further, we have increased our laboratory and technical personnel by 18% since I was appointed. We will continue to recruit more experts and professionals to elevate standards further and prepare for future growth.”
To ensure robust oversight, Cordlife has established a dedicated oversight committee comprised of certain Board members and management, as well as a Medical and Technical Advisory Board.
Strategic Partnerships and Controlled Resumption of Cord Blood Collection
Cordlife has also engaged Shandong Qilu Stemcell Engineering Co., Ltd. (“Shandong Qilu”), a leading cord blood bank in China, to further strengthen its operational capabilities. Shandong Qilu’s expertise, gained from managing about 1 million cord blood units and facilitating over 10,000 cord blood transplants in China, brings invaluable expertise to the Singapore team.
From 15 September 2024 to 13 January 2025 (unless approved sooner by MOH), Cordlife will be permitted to resume its cord blood banking services operations in a controlled manner, provided that the Company shall not collect, test, process, and/or store more than 30 new cord blood units per month from infant donors (including through any person appointed to provide the aforementioned services on behalf of the Company). This follows MOH’s confirmation that Cordlife’s facility in Singapore has ...
(All Rights Reserved)