| Bone marrow is a rich source of stem cells, the “parent” cells of all other blood cells. Stem cells also can be collected from blood through apheresis; this process is called “peripheral blood stem cell” (PBSC) donation. Michigan Community Blood Centers supports the National Marrow Donor Program’s international donor registry by recruiting prospective marrow/stem cell donors.
Marrow/Stem Cell Donor Requirements
- Healthy
- Age 18-60
- Complete a health-screening questionnaire
- Give a blood sample for tissue-typing
- Pay a test-processing fee*
* Michigan Community Blood Centers may be able to cover some or all testing costs through grant funding (most often available for minority donors). Please be sure to ask whether a testing fee will apply when you register. For details, call the Michigan Community Blood Centers location in your area, toll-free 1-866-MIBLOOD (1-866-642-5663).
Marrow/Stem Cell Donation is Important
Marrow/stem cell transplants may represent the best hope of survival for people with life-threatening blood diseases such as aplastic anemia and some kinds of leukemia. Donors can be found within a patient’s family only about 30% of the time. The other 70% of patients need to find unrelated volunteer donors.
Donors of Color are Especially Needed
While donors of all types may help save lives, there is a serious shortage of marrow/stem cell donors who represent ethnic minorities. Matches most often are found between people of the same ethnic group. Michigan Community Blood Centers supports NMDP in its campaign to increase the ethnic diversity of its donor registry, because a diverse group of prospective donors will give more transplant candidates a chance to find matches.
What Happens When You Donate
- Initial tissue-type match will be confirmed by additional testing.
- Meet with Michigan Community Blood Centers Marrow Dept. staff to learn details of the procedure.
- Outpatient donation (marrow donation performed under anaesthesia).
- You may have some soreness or restricted activity for 2 weeks after marrow donation.
- Donated stem cells transfused to patient.
- In time, transfused stem cells engraft and produce new, healthy blood cells.
To Organize A Marrow Donor Registry Drive
Marrow donor registry drives can be held separately or in conjunction with blood drives. A dual drive gives donors the opportunity to help save lives by donating blood AND by signing up for the Marrow Donor Registry at the same time.
Call our Marrow Recruitment Department toll-free at 1-866-MIBLOOD (1-866-642-5663) and choose menu option 2. Then our Marrow recruiter will work with you to:
- Discuss funding options and fundraising ideas.
- Set a date.
- Choose a place.
- Make various pre-drive preparations.
- Promote your drive (we provide posters, flyers, etc.).
- Recruit marrow donors.
© Michigan Community Blood Centers
|
