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Why is there a need for blood stem cell and bone marrow donors?

How is a stem cell "match" determined?

How can you become a donor?

Why are more minority donors needed?

Donating umbilical cord blood

What is the blood stem cell and bone marrow donation process?

Why is there a need for blood stem cell and bone marrow donors?
In the majority of cases, a person who needs a blood stem cell or bone marrow transplant needs to find a donor. That donor has to be genetically similar to the patient. Why? Because if the donor cells are not a close match to the patient's cells, they see the patient's own cells as "foreigners." The donor cells then tell the body's immune system to attack the patient's tissues. This can cause a serious complicaiton called graft-versus-host disease. 

How is a stem cell "match" determined?
To be a "match," the donor cells and the patient's cells must share the same type of human leukocyte antigens (HLA). That means the tissues in their bodies are compatible with each other. HLA are proteins on the surface of the white blood cells and other body tissues. If there is an HLA match, the donor stem cells are less likely to trigger an attack on the patient's body tissues.

Some people have a family member who is an HLA match, such as a sister or brother. But many people do not have a relative who is a match. That means they must search for a donor. The donor can be someone who is unrelated to them. Or the donor stem cells can come from umibilical cord blood that has been frozen in a cord blood bank.

How can you become a donor?
If you would like to become a blood or marrow transplant (BMT) donor, your HLA typing can be done through a donor registry. The information about your tissue type is stored, along with your name and contact information, in a confidential donor database. If someone who needs a BMT matches your HLA type, you may be called to see if you want to come in for further testing. If testing shows that you are a match, you can donate blood stem cells or bone marrow to the patient in need.

You must be in good health to be a donor. This is true whether you are a family member or an unrelated donor. Age requirements will vary depending on if you are donating stem cells for a family member, or as an unrelated donor. There are many factors to consider in becoming a donor. For more information visit the National Marrow Donor Program Web site or call them at 1-800-654-1247.

Why are more minority donors needed?
Patients who need a BMT are more likely to match an unrelated donor who has the same ethnic or racial background. However, according to the National Marrow Donor Program, there are not enough potential minority donors in the Be The Match donor registery to meet the needs of minority patients. With thousands fo patients in need of BMT, more donors of all ethnic backgrounds are needed. Click this link to learn more about the need for minority donors.

Donating umilical cord blood
In the past, umbilical cords were simply thrown away after a baby was born. Now we know that umibilcal cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. In fact, researchers have found that there is less need for a perfect HLA tissue match when umbilical cord blood is used for a transplant.

Not all hospitals collect umbilical cord blood. If you would like to consider donating your baby's umilical cord blood, check with your local hospital to see if that is possible. You can also click on this link to learn more about umbilical cord blood donation at Be The Match. com.

What is the blood stem cell and bone marrow donation process?
To learn more about what happens during blood stem cell and bone marrow donation, click this link to visit the BMT Process section of this Web site , and click on the link for Stem Cell Collection.