WMDA provides a handbook with complete information on how to set up a registry or cord blood bank. The handbook gives a detailed overview on all the steps that need to be implemented. You can gain access to the WMDA handbook by applying for an Individual  Membership here.

Before you can start listing donors and/or cord blood units in the WMDA Database, you’re required to fill out a checklist (Checklist Download) with all the important details that need to be in order to list.

After filling in the checklist, you can send the form to the WMDA office by mail (mail@wmda.info). The WMDA office team will review it and provide you with  information on the next steps.

With over 40 million donors worldwide, it is important to have a system that uniquely identifies potential donors on a global scale. To this end, WMDA has developed a unique global donor identifier to ensure secure, reliable and unambiguous assignment of donors: the Global Registration Identifier for Donors (GRID).

The purpose of the GRID is to:

1. Reduce the risk of mis-identification of hematopoietic stem cell donors, due to the lack of global uniqueness of identifiers;
2. Provide a standard eye-readable format for the donor identifier that can be used by humans;
3. Provide a standard machine-readable format for the donor identifier that can be used by computer systems;
4. Provide a check sum for transcription control;
5.  Provide consistent documentation;
6.  Improve traceability of donors.

All organisations involved in the process of recruiting, facilitating and providing haematopoietic stem cells from volunteer donors have implemented GRID. Established systems such as ISBT-128 or Single European code (SEC), which standardize the terminology, identification, coding and labelling of medical products of human origin, serve as the basis for GRID. WMDA has established a partnership with the International Council for Commonality in Blood Bank Automation (ICCBBA) to manage and maintain the GRID.

Quick links:

What is GRID?

• Publication explaining GRID: Global Registration Identifier for Donors (GRID) of Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Road to Automation and Safety

Technical details about GRID:

• Technical documentation: ION database and GRID rules
• Technical documentation: GRID Calculator

Operational tools:

• List of Issuing Organisation Numbers (ION)
• GRID Checksum Calculator
• How to work with GRID in excel
• Template: Global Registration Identifier for Donors (GRID) – implementation plan

All international registries need to know that your registry is operational. There are several ways to promote your registry to international partners.

• Publish your operational and regulatory information.
• Write an article for Stem Cell Matters to introduce your registry
• Come to the WMDA meetings and ask for a timeslot for a presentation

The operation of a registry also includes a big Information Technology component. When the infrastructure is in place, you can send a test file of your donor and/or cord blood file to the WMDA support team (support@wmda.info). Before you submit the file, you can read the requirements here.

1. After sending the criteria to list donors form, signing the data use agreement, sending a test file to WMDA and uploading the operational information, you can inform the WMDA office that your organisation is ready to start listing donors and/or cord blood units. You can then formally apply to the WMDA Board for a ‘FULL’ WMDA organisation membership.
2. Send your official application to the WMDA Board via email: mail@wmda.info.
3. The WMDA Board will review your application.
4. If your application is approved by the WMDA Board, your donors/cord blood units will become visible in WSMS.
5. You will receive an annual invoice from WMDA.

Find the pricelist here.

In September 2021 the WMDA had a meeting with several organisations to explain the pathway to follow and to inform attendees about the work WMDA does and the services that we provide.

View the recording

WMDA has a group of expert members that can provide information and help guide you through the many challenges you might face along the pathway of setting up a registry. These may be local, regulatory or financial issues, to name but a few.

Should you wish consultation from this group, you can send a message by mail to: mail@wmda.info. Please clearly state what kind of help or information you seek.

WMDA offers an array of interesting courses. Read more about the options in our Education Brochure and sign up by sending an email to education@wmda.info.