OBJECTIVE: The Czech Bone Marrow Donor Registry (CBMD)--established 9 years ago, operates within the National HLA Centre, a constituent part of the Department of Immunology at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine. The Czech Cord Blood Register (CSCB) was recently established (in 1996) and started its activities.
METHODS: CBMD is responsible for maintaining a database of HLA typed volunteer donors, for performing national and international searches in the file of bone marrow transplantation as well as for coordinating the communication between participating centres. RESULTS: The operation of the CBMD registry requires the modern communication technology for the exchange of data with local organisations (donor and transplant centres) and with international BM organisations and networks abroad (Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide--BMDW, National Marrow Donor Program--NMDP, European Donor Secretariat E.D.S., European Marrow Donor Information System--EMDIS).
CONCLUSIONS: The CBMD is fully integrated into international cooperation. The HLA typed unrelated stem cells from Prague can be selected for patients in the whole world.