The major goal of an unrelated donor registry is to create a file of well-informed and well-selected volunteers, with the greatest likelihood of being suitable donors if chosen to donate. Deficiencies in this process may lead to a loss of time and money, impact quality and safety, and may impact on an individual's chances to receive a transplant.12
The World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) has developed recommendations and eligibility criteria for the evaluation of volunteer donor health at recruitment and during later donor selection procedures. These recommendations promote international best practice in this area.12, 15
The recommendations include:
- sample screening questionnaire
- conditions leading to permanent deferral
- infectious diseases requiring a deferral period
- considerations associated with specific sexual partners
- conditions leading to temporary deferral
- prophylactic immunisations
- conditions requiring individual assessment.
The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) is the organisation responsible for the recruitment of volunteer bone marrow/blood stem cell donors and the administrative management of the National Cord Blood Collection Network of public cord blood banks in Australia. Within Australia the registry network is comprised of:16
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service bone marrow donor centres
- Tissue typing laboratories
- Transplant centers
- Collection and apheresis centres
- AusCord cord blood banks.
The Australian Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient Registry (ABMTRR) records details of HSC transplants throughout Australasia. Transplant recipients are followed up annually for incidence of relapse, other major malignancy events, and death up until ten years post-transplant.17
Learning activities
Access and read the ABMDR donor brochure(PDF, 2.46MB).18 Reflect on your feelings for or against becoming registered as a donor.
Access Haematopoietic stem cell donor registries: World Marrow Donor Association recommendations for evaluation of donor health(PDF, 119KB)12 and the updated WMDA Donor Medical Suitability Recommendations. Discuss how international agreements with the WMDA recommendations can lead to practice improvement internationally.