The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation has adopted the following policy on cord blood registries:

ASBMT supports the development of a single, integrated registry of umbilical cord blood for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The registry should be based on the following principles.

• The needs and interests of patients must be paramount in the development of any cord blood registry.

• Patients and transplant clinicians can be best served by a centralized, international registry that provides a seamless, timely and economical means of matching and obtaining donor cells.

• The collection, processing, testing, typing, storage, matching and dissemination of cord blood units should be part of a continuum of cell sources accessible for transplant. Cells from all sources – marrow, peripheral blood and cord blood – should be readily and equally accessible.

• The methods and mechanisms for search and procurement of cells within an integrated cord blood registry must be valid, reliable, efficient and transparent.

• An integrated cord blood registry should promote the collection of units that are racially and ethnically diverse.

• Cord blood banks participating in an integrated registry should maintain high standards for product efficacy and patient safety, as determined and confirmed through accreditation.

• An integrated cord blood registry should ensure confidentiality of all donor and patient records.

• Governmental funding is essential for the support of an integrated registry for umbilical cord blood.

• An integrated cord blood registry should provide professional and public education about its operations and all phases of donation, processing, storage, search and procurement.

• An integrated cord blood registry should have a quality improvement program and support research to enhance the efficacy, efficiency and economy of its operations.