Avoiding Confusion: The Importance Of Proper Reserved Donor Management

In donor searches, clarity and precision are essential. Yet, some registries are inadvertently causing confusion by removing reserved donors and cord blood units (CBUs) from their upload files. Here’s a common scenario: a transplant coordinator identifies a promising donor, reserves them, and begins additional testing. However, instead of marking the donor as “reserved,” the listing organisation removes them from the global database. When the coordinator can no longer find the donor in search results, it creates unnecessary stress and delays.

To address this, a change has been proposed to WMDA Standard 5.10.1, requiring transparent donor status management. The updated standard mandates that all donors and CBUs—regardless of their status—be included in upload files to ensure consistent and accurate data.

Adhering to this practice will:

Eliminate manual workarounds

Reduce errors in donor searches

Build trust between transplant coordinators and registries

Let’s work together to maintain a reliable system for all patients in need of a transplant.