Singapore Cord Blood Bank

- donating your baby’s umbilical cord blood is encouraged because of its potential to save lives;
- i.e. the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood can help to cure patients of diseases such as leukaemia, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, other blood cancers and disorders, as well as immune disorders

- expectant mothers and their spouses who are interested to donate their baby’s cord blood after birth should speak with their ObGyn (Delivering Physician) from 28 – 32 weeks of gestation (you must not have blood transfusion within 12 mth of donation)
- Alternatively, you may wish to contact Singapore Cord Blood Bank SCBB directly at 6394-5012 or info@scbb.com.sg after 32 weeks of gestation to complete the Donation Process

- you would be required to make an appt directly with the Nurse Coordinators who will meet with you (and your spouse) to explain all the donation details including completion of the Informed Consent, the Maternal Risk Questionnaire and the Family Medical History Questionnaire
- preferably after 32 weeks of gestation, when you are stable in your pregnancy and awaiting labour
- This process MUST be completed before you go into labour



- Efforts to establish Singapore Cord Blood Bank (SCBB) formally initiated by Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) in 2001
- SCBB began its operations in November 2004
- Officially opened by Mr. Khaw Boon Wan, Minister of Health on 28 September 2005

    * SCBB aims to be a life-saving, national resource that will benefit the diverse ethnic population in Singapore and around the world

- There have been a total of 46 Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants (HSCT) facilitated from the SCBB, since Official Opening

    * 22 local transplants
    * 7 regional & 17 International transplants

- 4 out of 6 match is the minimum requirement from National Marrow Donor Programme for the Transplant Physician to proceed with the transplant
- temperature is constantly maintained at less than -150°C and monitored via an alarm system

- if your newborn needs the donated blood within 3yrs, pay a small sum S$2500 for admin and maintanence fee
- thereafter, pay S$200 every year (no such scheme but on compassionate grounds)
- public if need the cord stem transplant, pay S$26k; overseas pay USD$25k

- in Singapore, every year, about 60% of patients needing transplants are unable to find a suitable stem cell match from bone marrow donors and other public cord blood bank
- likewise about 65% – 80% of Asians and Pan-Asians worldwide are also unable to find a suitable match
- with a one in four chance match (25%) amongst siblings, without this life-saving resource, patients would otherwise succumb to their disease