Cordlife suspended again by MOH due to 'significant lapses', won't be allowed to collect cord blood for 1 year

Private cord blood bank Cordlife has been served a suspension notice for a second time after the Ministry of Health (MOH) found more "serious lapses" following a July 2025 inspection.

This means the cord blood bank won't be able to collect, test, process, or store any new cord blood units until the suspension ends in one year.

It must focus on addressing its lapses, and will only be permitted to maintain existing cord blood units and retrieve stored units.

This includes retrieval for transfer to other cord blood banks, or for clinical use if needed, MOH said in a Sep. 29 announcement.

In the meantime, it will not be able to bank new cord blood units.

Cordlife has 14 days to make written representations.

Troubled history

Cord blood banking involves the collection and storage of cord blood from the umbilical cord after a baby is born.

A rich source of stem cells, cord blood has been used in the treatment of blood-related cancers, immune and genetic diseases.

But Cordlife has since 2023 run into a multitude of issues after repeated lapses in its processes.

In December 2023, it was suspended for the first time. It was found to have damaged the cord blood units of at least 2,150 customers, rendering them unsuitable for clinical usage, MOH said.

Its former group chief executive officer, chief financial officer, acting chairman, and a number of directors were also arrested over the alleged mishandling.

After two audits in 2024, MOH allowed Cordlife to continue cord blood banking after it showed that it had "satisfactorily addressed critical shortcomings", and renewed its licence in January 2025, with a scheduled audit in July.

But the July audit found that it had failed to comply with regulatory requirements on "key operational areas" including governance and incident reporting.

The lapses

Elaborating on the lapses, MOH said that a recently-concluded expanded testing found that three tanks failed the criteria for viability and potency.

These tanks contained 12,000 cord blood units. Cordlife could not identify conclusive reasons as to why, and has been directed to conduct a full investigation.

Key personnel who had contributed to Cordlife's improvements previously had resigned with no proper handover, MOH said.

Furthermore, the company had failed to comply with requirements on processes including collection, testing, and processing of new units since January 2025, affecting approximately 160 units.

Cordlife had also stored units which did not reach the appropriate temperature for cryopreservation, and there was no evidence of an investigation on whether this would have caused damage.

It also continued to use cord blood collection bags which were exposed to temperature excursions.

Between November 2022 and November 2024, MOH has carried out eight inspections in total at Cordlife.

Regulatory actions

MOH called the lapses "a serious matter of concern".

"With the suspension, Cordlife will be required to focus on properly maintaining the safety and quality of its existing cord blood units, and will not be able to bank new cord blood units," the ministry said.

It will not be allowed to sell cord blood banking services in this time.

Among the required rectification actions, Cordlife must replace its current CGO, who was found in the audit to have failed to provide proper oversight and guidance.

The CGO had advised staff that certain units, which were stored at inappropriate temperatures, were "not issues of concern".

This led to the under-reporting of incidents and process failures across the collection, testing, and processing of cord blood units, MOH said.

Cordlife must also review all lab records of cord blood units collected since January 2025, identify and resolve any deviations from policies, and inform clients if their cord blood units have been affected.

In addition, they must offer counselling by a haemotologist on the clinical uses of cord blood.

Can transfer, but this carries risks: MOH

In its statement, MOH recognised that the news may be "distressing to many Cordlife clients".

It urged Cordlife to "proactively engage its clients and address their concerns".

MOH has also begun discussions with other cord blood banks in Singapore, and Cordlife customers can contact them if they are interested in transferring their units elsewhere.

But such transfers "carry risks and should be considered carefully", MOH caveated.

The ministry added that it will continue to closely supervise its rectification of the lapses.

Should it continue to fail to meet regulatory requirements, MOH will make an assessment on whether or not to revoke its licence to operate.

Timeline of events

• Nov. 30, 2023: Cordlife issued notice to restrict activities after 2,200 cord blood units in one tank found to be damaged
• Dec. 15, 2023: Cordlife ordered to restrict activities for six months
• Apr. 8, 2024: Storage tanks and dry shipper tested, 5,300 units deemed "adversely impacted and non-viable"
• Jun. 15, 2024: Restrictions extended for three months
• Aug. 2024: Cordlife passes inspection
• Sep. 15, 2024: Cordlife allowed to resume cord blood banking services with restrictions
• Nov. 2024: Cordlife passes another inspection
• Jan. 14, 2025: MOH renews Cordlife's licence for one year till Jan. 13, 2026
• Jun. 5, 2025: Cordlife appoints new group CEO and Singapore CEO Chen Xiaoling
• Jul. 2025: MOH conducts inspection, finds "serious lapses"
• Sep. 29, 2025: MOH issues notice of intent to suspend licence for one year

Top image from MOH/Facebook and Cordlife/Facebook