We achieved WMDA Full Standard Certification – A result of safe, efficient, and reliable services
We are proud to announce, that DKMS Registry received the certificate for Full Standard Certification from the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) during the 15th International Donor Registry Conference (IDRC) and WMDA Meetings 2025 in Québec, Canada. It is the first time that such a certificate is awarded in the context of international operations, embracing DKMS donor centers in Poland, the United Kingdom, India, Chile and South Africa. We are delighted that our safe, efficient, and reliable services have now the official certification to follow WMDA standards.
The World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) is a global organization that promotes the ethical, efficient, and effective exchange of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation to find donors for patients worldwide. Its Certification Program aims to enhance the quality of organizations involved in these processes. The WMDA Certification signifies a commitment by the DKMS to adhere to the standards of the WMDA. By meeting these international standards, DKMS Registry has demonstrated compliance of their services as well as the services of the overseen DKMS donor centers.
Looking back, the extensive certification process included among others internal audits of all DKMS donor centers (DCs, excl. US), a WMDA document review of all standards and an on-site audit by trained WMDA standard reviewers at the DKMS Registry. Having demonstrated compliance to benchmark standards in 2021, we are proud to achieve full standards certification only 4 years after.
DKMS Africa, Fundación de Beneficencia Pública DKMS Chile, DKMS Foundation India, Fundacja DKMS Poland and DKMS United Kingdom are now certified under the umbrella of DKMS Registry. DKMS Donor Center gGmbH, Germany, which is currently certified via the ZKRD – Zentrales Knochenmarkspender-Register Deutschland – will also become part of this certification, while DKMS US will continue to be certified via NMDP, the American national donor registry.
During the 15th IDRC and WMDA Meetings 2025 in Québec, Canada, Dr. Julia Pingel, Global CIO & COO DKMS Registry, Bettina Roth, Quality Manager DKMS Registry, and Matthias Kohl, Quality Assurance Manager DKMS Group received the certificate during the WMDA General Member’s Meeting on Thursday, May 22nd in person. Lydia Foeken (CEO of WMDA) and Garth Healey (Pillar 4 - Ensuring Quality Board Member) congratulated to this achievement.
The fact that during this ceremony the highest number of registries ever were awarded their certificates demonstrates the increasing relevance of this certification for our community delivering stem cells to patients in need.
What purpose does the certification serve?
The World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) Certification Program aims to enhance the quality of organizations involved in procuring hematopoietic stem cells for international unrelated donor searches. The WMDA Certification signifies that DKMS is compliant with WMDA standards in the three services 1) receive requests for searches; maintain searchable database, 2) Coordinating the provision of adult volunteer donors for stem cell donations; 3) providing support for search requests from the registry’s transplant centers.
What does full standard mean?
Full standards status is attainable for organizations that have maintained Benchmark L2 status for 2-4 years. This level involves a comprehensive evaluation of all WMDA standards, which includes an on-site or remote audit as part of the assessment process. Full Standards status is renewed every 4 years.
How is the certification maintained?
First of all, all DKMS donor centers must carry out internal audits and also undergo so-called donor center audits, which are carried out under the direction of the DKMS Registry as overseeing unit and in cooperation with the quality assurance team from Corporate Quality department of the DKMS Group. The donor center audits are supported by a pool of trained auditors made up of various DKMS experts.
The WMDA reviews every 2 years whether the work of the DKMS Registry and its overseen DKMS donor centers are still compliant with the newest version of the standards. This will next be done in 2027 through a mid-cycle surveillance and in 2028 through an on-site audit.
What´s next?
The DKMS Donor Center gGmbH, Germany, is currently certified as part of the ZKRD (Zentrales Knochenmarkspender-Register Deutschland). In the future, it will be certified under the DKMS Registry gGmbH.
Good to know: This will not change the listing of the donors nor our operations and services.