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1. Who can donate?

Potential donors must be between 18 and 60 years of age and in good health. Interested donors with chronic diseases including diabetes, respiratory (such as asthma) or heart conditions may not be eligible to donate marrow or stem cells for safety reasons. There is no special diet or physical program necessary to donate.

Signing up to be a marrow donor takes only about 25 minutes including a simple blood test. A single tube of blood is needed for this HLA-typing, a series of blood antigens that help to match recipient and donor. If these results match a patient needing a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, the potential donor will be contacted for further testing. If additional tests match, the donor will then be asked to give a small amount of marrow to offer hope to a terminally ill patient.

2. What is involved in the donation process?

Once it has been determined that you are a match for a patient, you will attend a thorough information session with the NMDP Donor Center Coordinator and Medical Director. The donation process will be reviewed as well as your options as a potential donor. You will also undergo a physical examination. After being fully informed, you decide whether to become a volunteer marrow donor.
Donating marrow is a same-day surgery that requires no stitches. General anesthesia is used for the procedure. No more than 5 percent of your marrow is collected from the back of your pelvis. Many donors feel some discomfort after surgery which has been compared to a back ache you might get if you slipped and fell on your bottom on ice. This discomfort is a muscle soreness lasting an average of 10 days. Regular Tylenol® is usually prescribed for any discomfort or pain. Your own marrow regenerates in two weeks.

3. Donating Stem Cells.

Stem cells are collected through the peripheral blood system through the aphaeresis process. Donors are given injections of an FDA approved medication called Filgrastim® to facilitate cell growth. Stem cells are then collected in either one or two sessions at Hoxworth and transfused into the patient within 48 hours of the collection.
 

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