WMDA has published a handbook that provides you 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 request access to the WMDA handbook by applying for WMDA Service Membership.

Donors are donating their cells on a voluntary basis. Donor education is a crucial part of the operation of a registry. Not only to make sure that the donor understands the process but also to make sure that the patient receives a high quality product. If your registry is planning to list donors and/or cord blood units, we recommend you to fill in the checklist (Checklist Download).

If you have all information collected, you can send the form to the WMDA office by mail (mail@wmda.info). The WMDA office team will review the form and provide you 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: Technical Specification

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. If you have sent the criteria to list donor form, signed the data use agreement, sent a test file to WMDA and uploaded the operational information, you can send a note to the WMDA office that your organisation is ready to start to list donors and/or cord blood units and would like to become a WMDA member.
2. Let us know which type of membership you would prefer. For organisations that are listing their donors/cord blood for international search, there are two types of memberships:
   1. WMDA Provisional membership: for all organisations that list their donors and/or cord blood product in the WMDA Search & Match Service directly, or through another member. Also for organisations that are otherwise engaged in the field of HCT and that want to be part of WMDA’s international community. Please note that Board Approval is required to obtain this membership.
   2. WMDA Regular membership: this is an upgrade of the Provisional membership, allowing organisation to nominate volunteers for official positions within WMDA and to vote. It also includes the option to apply for Qualification and Accreditation.
3. Contact WMDA office by mail (mail@wmda.info) and let us know that you would like to register as provisional member
4. The WMDA Board will review your application
5. If your application is approved by the WMDA Board, your donors/cord blood units will become visible
6. You will receive an annual invoice from WMDA. Find here the price list, click 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 educaiton@wmda.info.