Starting with listing donors/cord blood units
Guidance for New and Emerging Registries and Cord Blood Banks
Setting up a registry or a public cord blood bank can be a challenging but life-changing endeavor. WMDA is here to guide you every step of the way. A registry is an organisation responsible for coordinating searches for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from donors—either adult or cord blood—unrelated to the recipient.
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Patient Registry / Requesting Registry: Acts on behalf of transplant centers to find suitable donors.
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Donor Registry / Providing Registry: Supplies the hematopoietic stem cell products to patients.
Step 1: Getting Started
WMDA provides a step-by-step handbook with complete instructions for setting up a registry or cord blood bank. The handbook covers every process needed to become operational. Access is available by applying for Individual Membership.
Before listing donors or cord blood units in the WMDA Database, you must complete a checklist (download available on the site) to ensure all key information is in place.
With over 40 million donors worldwide, unique identification is critical. WMDA has developed the Global Registration Identifier for Donors (GRID) to ensure secure, reliable, and unambiguous donor assignments.
Step 2: Understanding GRID
GRID is designed to:
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Reduce misidentification of donors with globally unique identifiers
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Provide a standardized, human-readable donor ID
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Support machine-readable formats for systems integration
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Include a checksum for transcription accuracy
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Ensure consistent documentation
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Improve traceability of donors
GRID is built on established standards like ISBT-128 and Single European Code (SEC) and is maintained in partnership with the International Council for Commonality in Blood Bank Automation (ICCBBA).
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
Step 3: Next Steps to Listing Donors or Cord Blood Units
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Complete the Checklist: Fill out all required operational and technical information.
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Submit to WMDA: Email your completed checklist to WMDA. WMDA will review and guide you on next steps.
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Promote Your Registry: Once your criteria are submitted, sign the data use agreement, send a test file, and upload operational information to WMDA. Inform the WMDA office when you’re ready to start listing.
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Apply for Sector List Membership: Send your formal application to the WMDA via email (mail@wmda.info). Upon approval, your donors or cord blood units will be visible in the WMDA Search & Match Service.
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Annual Membership: After approval, your organization will receive an annual invoice from WMDA.
Step 4: Get Involved and Learn More
WMDA supports your growth with opportunities to:
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Publish operational and regulatory information
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Write an article for Stem Cell Matters to introduce your registry
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Attend WMDA meetings and present your registry
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Take courses from our Education Brochure – sign up at education@wmda.info
Quick Links
- Download the checklist
- Access to WMDA handbook
- GRID Technical Details
- WMDA Data Format for listing
