The South African bone marrow registry (SABMR) in 2004.

Because of the presence of rare HLA antigens, particularly in patients of African ancestry, the SABMR was established in 1991. Currently approximately 20% of unique HLA types in the international database is from the SABMR. The SABMR donors now total approximately 45,000. Sixty-five South African patients have received matched unrelated donor transplants, 20 (30%) with a local donor. Most donors are from Caucasian background. To increase the genetic diversity of the SABMR donor pool, the policy is now to enrol more black and mixed ancestry donors.