How to Donate Bone Marrow

A bone marrow or blood cell transplant can save the lives of patients with leukemia and other blood diseases. Bone marrow generates new red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells help carry oxygen, white blood cells help fight infection and platelets help blood to clot. A patient whose marrow is unable to perform these functions may look to a donor for a chance at survival.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Join the Bone Marrow Registry

1. Join the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry online (see Resources below).
2. Confirm that you are between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health. The NMDP has medical guidelines on its website. If you are unsure of your current state of health, ask your physician whether you are able to donate marrow.
3. Locate a donor center if you are not a resident of the United States or Puerto Rico. The NMDP website provides a short list of donor centers around the world.
4. Print the consent forms and keep them for future reference.
5. Read the NMDP's terms of use and the Donor Registration and Consent for HLA Typing.
6. Learn about registering through the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor program if you are in the United Stated military. Find information online (see Resources below).

Donate Bone Marrow

7. Prepare to be called upon at any time. Once you are a bone marrow donor, you must be available for transplant.
8. Agree to donate your bone marrow when contacted by a doctor or hospital.
9. Go through additional testing to ensure that you are a healthy bone marrow match.
10. Meet with a donor counselor to review every aspect of being a donor.
11. Prepare for marrow collection surgery. The doctor will remove bone marrow from your pelvic bones. You should not experience any pain, since the surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
12. Take it easy after surgery and avoid strenuous activities. Some donors experience soreness in the pelvic region. However, all symptoms should disappear after no more than 2 weeks.
13. Follow up with you physician after donating bone marrow. Wait until you are given the okay to return to normal activity.

Tips & Warnings

• Recovery time after donating marrow varies from person to person. Take the necessary time off to rest and recuperate.

Who Can Help: