Table 1 Definitions of the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA).

Backup donor (BUD)

A donor who will be requested for donation if the primary donor selected for workup is unable to proceed to donation.

Best practice

A working method or set of working methods that is officially accepted as being the best to use in a particular business or industry.

Health and Availability Check (HAC)

An alternative to verification typing in which a donor is contacted, offered information and counseling, administered a health history questionnaire, and availability to donate is determined. Verification typing can then be performed at workup on pre-collection blood samples. HAC is offered under specific circumstances (e.g., known HLA match level, transplant urgency) by some organisations.

Primary donor

The donor that has been selected on behalf of a patient in need of HCT. The primary donor proceeds to workup, the final stages of donor testing and medical clearance prior to donation.

Reserved

Status of a donor who is actively being considered on behalf of a patient in need of a transplant and which precludes activation on behalf of other patients. A donor could be reserved by request, following testing, at HAC, pending workup, or while workup is underway. A donor who is reserved for a patient may appear in other patient searches; however, the donor’s reserved status should be indicated.

Strongly recommended

Something that should be considered; familiarisation with the topic and, at a minimum, contemplation of timely implementation should be conducted in the interest of patient and donor safety.

Workup (WU)

The final stages of donor testing and medical clearance prior to hematopoietic cell donation. The potential donor will be provided with information and counselling and have their medical eligibility to proceed will be evaluated. Further testing of HLA and/or IDM could also be required.