Bone marrow is most often donated voluntarily, without financial compensation, for transplantation into a specific individual who is usually a friend or loved one. A bone marrow transplant can treat leukemia and other blood diseases. However, you can also donate bone marrow to scientific research groups for use in research and clinical trials. Unlike donating bone marrow for transplantation, donating bone marrow for research can be compensated financially.

How to Donate Bone Marrow for Money

Locate a scientific research group accepting bone marrow in exchange for financial compensation. Contact major medical centers or search the U.S. National Institutes of Health: Clinical Trials website using the key word "bone marrow" to find these research groups (see below).

Review the research group's inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Verify that you, your gender, your age, your medical condition(s) and your lifestyle habit(s) meet the criteria to donate bone marrow for the study.

Contact the research group and sign up for bone marrow donation. If asked, provide any requested medical documentation to verify that you meet the criteria to donate bone marrow for the scientific study.

Review any materials provided by the research group, or materials available on the internet, explaining what to expect when you donate. Medline Plus provides helpful material, titled "Bone Marrow Aspiration" (see below).

Read all informed consent forms and legal releases provided to you by the research group, paying attention to the risks of the procedure and the legal rights released. If you agree to go forward with bone marrow donation, sign all informed consent forms and legal releases.

Undergo bone marrow donation, which involves aspiration. This typically involves an incision, insertion of a 25-gauge needle through the skin and into the bone (often the iliac crest of the pelvis, which has a large amount of bone marrow) and some pain when the bone marrow is removed through the needle.

Receive your money as compensation for your time and effort and the inconvenience of donating bone marrow.

Follow all postprocedure recommendations. Pay particular attention to wound care and when you can resume normal activities.

Tip

  • Bone marrow aspiration carries risk, although complications are rare. Complications can include excessive bleeding, infection, breaking of needles within the bond, long-lasting pain and reactions to intravenous sedation.

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