DKMS Registry - Finding the best possible match
Finding the right stem cell donor can make all the difference for a patient needing a blood stem cell transplant. Through the DKMS Registry, transplant centres and registries around the world can search for suitable DKMS donors, helping more patients find the best possible match when time matters most.
As part of the global DKMS network, DKMS Africa contributes South African donors to the DKMS Registry while helping local transplant centres access millions of potential donors worldwide. This international collaboration expands donor options for South African patients and enables South African donors to give patients across the globe a second chance at life.
What is the DKMS Registry?
The DKMS Registry is the international donor registry responsible for making DKMS donors available for unrelated stem cell transplantation worldwide. Although DKMS has operated as an international donor registry since 2015, the dedicated DKMS Registry was established in 2020 as a non-profit subsidiary of DKMS to create a single, efficient and globally connected donor registry.
Today, the Registry lists potential stem cell donors from DKMS donor centres in South Africa, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Chile and India, creating one of the world's largest and most diverse donor pools. All donor information is stored in a pseudonymised and secure format, allowing transplant professionals to search for compatible donors while protecting donor privacy.
Why is the DKMS Registry important?
Every patient has a unique genetic profile, making it essential to find the closest possible donor match. The DKMS Registry helps simplify this process by providing transplant centres and registries with access to millions of DKMS donors through one central platform, rather than searching multiple donor centres individually.
Today, the DKMS Registry provides access to approximately 25% of all registered unrelated stem cell donors worldwide, helping healthcare professionals identify suitable donors more quickly and efficiently. By continuously improving donor information, introducing additional genetic markers and streamlining donor request processes, the DKMS Registry helps improve access to life-saving stem cell transplantation for patients around the world.
Supporting South African patients
For patients in South Africa who require an unrelated stem cell transplant, finding a compatible donor often means searching beyond national borders. Through the DKMS Registry, South African transplant centres can access a global network of millions of potential stem cell donors while also searching the wider international donor pool coordinated through the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA).
At the same time, South African donors registered with DKMS Africa become part of the international donor network, giving patients across the world the opportunity to receive a potentially life-saving transplant. This global collaboration improves access to suitable donors regardless of where a patient or donor lives.
How the DKMS Registry works
Finding a suitable donor involves several coordinated steps between transplant centres, registries and donor organisations.
1. A transplant centre begins a donor search: When a patient's healthcare team determines that a blood stem cell transplant is needed, the transplant centre begins searching for the closest possible donor match.
2. The DKMS Registry searches millions of potential donors: Using secure registry systems, transplant professionals search DKMS donors together with the worldwide donor network to identify compatible donors based on Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matching and other relevant medical information.
3. Suitable donors are identified: Potential donor matches are reviewed by experienced search coordinators together with the treating transplant centre to identify the most appropriate donor for the patient.
4. The donor request process begins: Once the best donor has been selected, the DKMS Registry coordinates the required testing, donor availability checks and donation requests in collaboration with the relevant donor centre and transplant team.
Supporting transplant centres worldwide
The DKMS Registry is more than a donor database. For transplant centres in countries without a national donor registry or where donor search infrastructure is limited; the Registry provides specialist support throughout the donor search process. This support currently includes transplant centres in South Africa, India, Chile and Colombia, while remaining available to other eligible transplant centres that require assistance accessing unrelated donors.
Support services include:
- Worldwide unrelated donor searches through the WMDA network
- Search reports combining DKMS and non-DKMS donor results
- Guidance from experienced search coordinators
- Support with donor selection
- Access to DKMS donor requests
- Assistance coordinating international donor requests where applicable
- Assistance with stem cell product transport
Participation is subject to transplant centre evaluation in accordance with World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) standards.
Registry Services
The DKMS Registry provides several digital tools and services that help registries and transplant centres search for donors and manage donor requests more efficiently.
1. Search Support
The Registry offers specialist search support for transplant centres that do not have access to a national donor registry or require assistance managing unrelated donor searches. Working alongside experienced search coordinators, transplant teams receive support throughout donor identification, donor selection and the donor request process.
2. Hap-E Search®
Hap-E Search® is designed for transplant centres in countries without a national donor registry. The application enables authorised transplant centres to independently search DKMS donors while receiving continued support from DKMS Registry search coordinators throughout donor selection and donor requests. Approved users also receive training to help them use the platform effectively.
4. EMDIS Connectivity
The DKMS Registry is connected to the European Marrow Donor Information System (EMDIS), an international communication network linking bone marrow donor registries around the world. This secure connection enables efficient communication between participating registries and supports international donor searches and donor requests across borders.
Global collaboration
Blood stem cell transplantation depends on international cooperation. The DKMS Registry works closely with donor registries, transplant centres and healthcare professionals worldwide to ensure patients have access to the largest possible pool of unrelated stem cell donors.
By combining advanced technology, experienced search coordination and international partnerships, the Registry helps make donor searches faster, more efficient and more accessible for patients across the world.
