The Registration Process
Registering is very easy and only takes about 10 minutes. so make it hapa'n now! It requires no blood, just a simple cotton swab of the mouth.
To qualify as a volunteer donor, you must:
• Be between the ages of 18 and 60 and meet health guidelines (see below)
• Provide a mouth swab sample to determine your tissue type
• Be listed on the National Marrow Donor Program registry, which is strictly confidential
• Update your contact information if there is a change in your address, health status or willingness to donate
• Be willing to help any patient Donors must provide the names and contact information for two alternate contacts (for example, a family member or close friend) that do not live in the same household.
Donors are also required to provide a Social Security Number and/or Driver's License Number, which may be the only way the National Marrow Donor Program can locate them. All information is kept confidential and is only used to check for the donor's latest address. Complete a consent form with contact information, healthy history questions and a signed agreement to join the registry.
To help you complete the form, bring along: - Personal identification (such as a driver’s license or passport) - Contact information for two family members or friends who would know how to reach you in the future if your address changes. The last step in the registration process is when you give either a swab of cheek cells or a blood sample so your tissue type can be tested. The registry is searchable by patients worldwide. Doctors search our registry when they need to find a donor for their patients and then if they find that you are a match with their patient you will receive a phone call.
Have a question about the registration process? Check out the FAQ link for more information or to ask your question and get an answer.
The Donation Process
There are 2 donation methods:
The patient’s doctor decides which of these methods is best:
Bone Marrow Donation:
A
small amount of marrow is collected from your hip bone using a needle
and syringe. Anesthesia is used during this simple hospital procedure.
Afterwards, you may be sore for a few days to a few weeks, but normal
activity may be resumed. Your marrow replenishes itself within a few
weeks.
PBSC Donation:
You
receive injections of Filgrastim for 5 days to increase the
blood-forming cells in your bloodstream. You may experience flu-like
symptoms for a few days.
Blood is drawn from your arm using a
sterile needle and passes through a machine that separates the blood
cells. The remaining blood returns to your other arm.
Please
take into account that with either donation method you will experience
some inconvenience but it is a small price to pay when you can save a
life!
Have a question about the donation process? Check out the FAQ link for more information or to ask your question and get an answer.