NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry

NHS Blood and Transplant runs the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry and, with Anthony Nolan and the other UK registries, a single point of access for UK transplant centres; it says it provides expert support for half the stem cell transplants performed in the UK each year. The registry has over 400,000 people signed up, and NHSBT notes that 70 per cent of patients rely on being matched with a volunteer donor unknown to them. People join by giving an extra blood sample at a blood, plasma or platelet donation appointment.

Internationally the registry supplies donations from its donors and from the NHS Cord Blood Bank to other countries through Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide and WMDA.