FIVE OTHER TANKS’ Effects TEST RESULTS
The remaining five vehicles, which contain about 14, 000 cord blood products, have undergone investigation to get “at reduced risk of being severely affected by temperature warming events,” according to MOH.
All 30 of the five tanks ‘ samples passed independent third-party labs ‘ tests of strength and validity.
According to the root cause study, the “temperature warming events” in four out of five tanks, referred to as Tanks D to G, were most likely caused by inappropriate tracking of the temperature sensor to the pond or misplaced heat probes during scheduled servicing.
According to MOH, the exposure to the highest temperatures of -144.7 degree Fahrenheit for Tank C may have prevented damage to the cord blood products.
To obtain more statistically significant effects, MOH researchers have advised that Cordlife check a large number of cord blood models in these five tanks. 99 percent of the samples tested may go both strength and practicality tests.
More than 200 additional samples will be tested by Cordlife across the five tanks, and MOH experts will be able to discuss the results of the tests.
” As the tests, which involve complex processes, have to be carefully carried out, Cordlife expects to take approximately another year to complete the tests”, said the ministry.
If the five tanks have low levels of risk of being affected but are awaiting further testing, Cordlife has also been instructed to inform its affected clients.
Given that there are significant risks associated with the transfer of cord blood units, MOH advised Cordlife’s affected clients to be patient and hold off until these results are obtained before making any decisions, including whether to transfer cord blood units to another cord blood bank.
” MOH will continue to closely supervise Cordlife’s rectification of the weaknesses identified in their governance structure, processes, systems and documentation”.