What does our community need?

There is a critical need for more racially diverse volunteer donors. Patients and donors must have matching tissue types, and these matches are found most often between people of the same race group. A large, racially diverse group of prospective donors will give more patients a chance for survival.

As of May 25, 2006, approximately 50.2% of registered donors are known to be other than Caucasian.

Who is currently registered in the program?

5 million people are registered with the National Marrow Donor Program.

How can I join the registry?

From Northern and Central California:
BloodSource: (800) 995-4420, extension 10802.

From outside Northern and Central California:
National Marrow Donor Program at 1-800-MARROW-2.

There may be a fee for Caucasian individuals to cover the cost of the test to determine your tissue type. Because funding is limited and the need to diversify the registry is so critical, the U.S. Government covers the cost for non-Caucasian members. Once a donor is found to match a patient, all medical expenses are covered by the recipient or by the recipient’s insurance.

What happens if I am matched with a patient?

If you match the tissue type of a patient seeking a donor, additional testing will confirm the results. You will meet with Marrow Donor Counselors at BloodSource who will help you make your informed decision about donating marrow/blood stem cells. Depending on the needs of the patient, you may be asked to give either marrow or Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSC).

What should I expect if I give marrow?

The marrow collection process is performed at the hospital and usually does not require an overnight stay. The procedure itself is painless because it is performed under anesthesia. But, for an average of two weeks following the procedure, most donors experience sore hips and some must restrict their activities. Most donors report that donating marrow is a very positive experience. Many are willing to donate again in the future.

What should I expect if I give blood stem cells?

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) collection is done using the same type of machines that are used for platelets and plasma collection. You will receive several injections of a medication called Filgrastim before your donation. This medication causes the body to release blood stem cells into the bloodstream where they can be collected. This process usually is done over two days and does not require anesthesia. Donors sometimes report soreness in the large bones of their body during the medication injection period.