Cordlife

[Ysc3]

 

my wife and I donated the umbilical cord blood this year to the public bank.

Personal views only.

 

Rationale:

a) Cordlife stores your cord blood. But is it even usable in the 1st place?

You do know that Cordlife never does any testing to see if the sample is usable? they only make sure there is no infectious disease within the sample.

FYI, >50% of the public bank's samples are deemed not suitable for donation (insufficient cells quantity etc). The public bank actually discards this amount straight away. According to the public bank, only 30+% will be kept beyond 1 year.

 

b) If you have a major illness requiring stem cell therapy (common fear is cancer), your own precursor cells may well have the same cancerous potential

 

c) extremely limited scope of usage given current medical technology

 

That being said, i don't think it's a ridiculous amount to pay if it gives u additional peace of mind.

There are some of my peers who bank with Cordlife, some who donate to public bank. Lol some don't bother.

 

but how to run test with the cordblood sample to see if its usable or not ? only donor/recipient can verify that at the time of use.

 

however, your second worry may hold some water but that has never been mentioned before also.

[Darryn]

 

my wife and I donated the umbilical cord blood this year to the public bank.

Personal views only.

 

Rationale:

a) Cordlife stores your cord blood. But is it even usable in the 1st place?

You do know that Cordlife never does any testing to see if the sample is usable? they only make sure there is no infectious disease within the sample.

FYI, >50% of the public bank's samples are deemed not suitable for donation (insufficient cells quantity etc). The public bank actually discards this amount straight away. According to the public bank, only 30+% will be kept beyond 1 year.

 

b) If you have a major illness requiring stem cell therapy (common fear is cancer), your own precursor cells may well have the same cancerous potential

 

c) extremely limited scope of usage given current medical technology

 

That being said, i don't think it's a ridiculous amount to pay if it gives u additional peace of mind.

There are some of my peers who bank with Cordlife, some who donate to public bank. Lol some don't bother.

 

We did it because we don't really know where the science is heading, except that it's only going to get better.

 

Already since we did this, the advances in growth and replication of cells has been impressive - what more in another 20 or more years when, realistically the cells may possibly be used for our daughter if something unexpected arises - and as already mentioned, the yearly cost is not that high.

[Lala81]

but how to run test with the cordblood sample to see if its usable or not ? only donor/recipient can verify that at the time of use.

Erm I don't understand why can only be verified at time of use.

It's just like sperm right. If Ur semen don't even have enough spermatozoa, unlikely whatever you do won't work.

Of course technology can improve but if u are working with low quality or quantity, it just makes sense it's harder to harvest or use.

 

In that sense, the public bank doesn't want to waste space or resources cryo freezing what it deems insufficiently good samples.

 

Whether u think their standards are too high or adequate, at least they are setting a standard

Nothing wrong with either schools of thought.

Just offering what we as medical professionals think.

Informed consent is always good.

 

Just don't be surprised if your stored cord blood is not usable in the event of touch wood (if the sample is of inadequate quality).

Edited October 2, 2014 by Lala81

[kittycat9000]

Are there any success stories?

 

For Cordlife i know there is success stories. click here

 

For stemcord so far din see any news yet.

[Voodooman]

 

For Cordlife i know there is success stories. click here

 

For stemcord so far din see any news yet.

You are right, there are very few success stories, the successful cases are also very limited in terms of scope and improvement. The science is not exactly solid, I understand from a friend in this field a while back.

 

If it had worked, I am sure the rich biotech and pharma firms will be buying up all these companies.

 

You are just paying for peace of mind.

[Sabian]

 

For Cordlife i know there is success stories. click here

 

For stemcord so far din see any news yet.

 

Competition so keen? Or cannot meet KPI?

[Invigorated]

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/cordlife-group-found-to-have-damaged-cord-blood-units-of-at-least-2150-customers

Sibei jialat. Bloody hell that this has to happen to parents who have placed their trust and for those that may really need it. 

It's disturbing they didn't come clean earlier and this was only revealed by moh/media outlets instead of Cordlife coming forward from the onset. 

[Wind30]

On 12/1/2023 at 8:22 AM, Invigorated said:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/cordlife-group-found-to-have-damaged-cord-blood-units-of-at-least-2150-customers

Sibei jialat. Bloody hell that this has to happen to parents who have placed their trust and for those that may really need it. 

It's disturbing they didn't come clean earlier and this was only revealed by moh/media outlets instead of Cordlife coming forward from the onset. 

Investigations are ongoing for the remaining six storage tanks containing approximately 17,300 CBUs that belong to an estimated 17,050 clients. Pending the investigation outcome, MOH will be consulting its experts to determine if similar tests should be performed on the CBUs stored in these six tanks.
 

….. sigh errr… shouldn’t Moh test all the tanks?? Honestly I wonder any of those units are useable…

[Wind30]

Double post

Edited December 1, 2023 by Wind30

[Wind30]

On 12/1/2023 at 8:22 AM, Invigorated said:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/cordlife-group-found-to-have-damaged-cord-blood-units-of-at-least-2150-customers

Sibei jialat. Bloody hell that this has to happen to parents who have placed their trust and for those that may really need it. 

It's disturbing they didn't come clean earlier and this was only revealed by moh/media outlets instead of Cordlife coming forward from the onset. 

Investigations are ongoing for the remaining six storage tanks containing approximately 17,300 CBUs that belong to an estimated 17,050 clients. Pending the investigation outcome, MOH will be consulting its experts to determine if similar tests should be performed on the CBUs stored in these six tanks.
 

….. sigh errr… shouldn’t Moh test all the tanks?? Honestly I wonder any of those units are useable… I think my wife is still paying for this… 

[Mits_jc]

"....MOH will closely monitor and audit them."

How come the "closely monitor" part sounds familiar

"MOH said during the company's last inspection in September 2022, as part of a biennial routine for such services..."
"...one of the affected tanks (Tank A) were exposed to temperatures beyond the acceptable limits for several days in February, March and June 2022,"

Audit do what, all those temperature excursion swept under the carpet by Cordlife?
Didn't raise any discrepancy in the company's Quality management system (if any)?
No red flags during MOH audit??

Sounds fishy to have the issue arise from "complaint from a member of the public on Jul 24 this year", if no complaint then biz as usual, every year collect $300 from CDA, ownself check ownself??

[Sosaria]

The business model of such companies is like insurance. It's very long term so top execs don't feel much concern or worry. If all goes well maybe they'd retire and enjoy their big bonuses first before anything is found out and they are held accountable.

Like insurance, if nothing happens and no claim (which is most likely the case), then the company just 白白 collect money.

[Atonchia]

Happen in Yishun again🤦

Really KNS....

Think all parents received email that investigation is ongoing. 

Edited December 1, 2023 by Atonchia

[Atonchia]

On 12/1/2023 at 6:49 PM, Sosaria said:

The business model of such companies is like insurance. It's very long term so top execs don't feel much concern or worry. If all goes well maybe they'd retire and enjoy their big bonuses first before anything is found out and they are held accountable.

Like insurance, if nothing happens and no claim (which is most likely the case), then the company just 白白 collect money.

Sounded a bit like previous SMRT Corporation.

[inlinesix]

On 12/1/2023 at 6:49 PM, Sosaria said:

The business model of such companies is like insurance. It's very long term so top execs don't feel much concern or worry. If all goes well maybe they'd retire and enjoy their big bonuses first before anything is found out and they are held accountable.

Like insurance, if nothing happens and no claim (which is most likely the case), then the company just 白白 collect money.

This is more like storage facility rather than a biz of probability 

[Sosaria]

On 12/1/2023 at 7:14 PM, inlinesix said:

This is more like storage facility rather than a biz of probability 

Just keep long long, there's a high chance that it won't be used. Can't be used also nobody would know

 

[Tkseah]

Some gonna refund liao..

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/cordlife-says-5-300-cord-blood-units-deemed-be-high-risk-offers-refund-and-fee-waiver

[Unltd]

On 4/8/2024 at 8:58 PM, Tkseah said:

Some gonna refund liao..

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/cordlife-says-5-300-cord-blood-units-deemed-be-high-risk-offers-refund-and-fee-waiver

I don’t understand the point in the refund, it should be large compensation. I could be wrong but it feels like insurance telling you that you aren’t actually insured, here, take back your $$$, next premium free also, although there’s no insurance any longer cause I can’t harvest the stem cells any longer.