[Setting-up a national file of bone marrow volunteer donors]

The lack of HLA matched sibling donors has become a problem. Recent improvements suggest the feasibility of marrow transplantation from unrelated donors. A program to obtain volunteer bone marrow donors has been developed. A total of 3,853 HLA A B typings were performed. A search for 83 patients was initiated; 51 of them had one or more HLA A and B (61%), 8 HLA A, B and DR antigen identical donors, 2 did not react in mixed lymphocyte culture. This experience confirms the necessity of increasing the donor file but the size remains to be established.