Donation basics
You’ve been contacted because an individual in your area is a potential match or the best match for a patient in need of a blood stem cell transplant, also known as hematopoietic cell transplant. They unselfishly put their own life on hold and agreed to move forward in the donation process. Our goal is to make this process as easy for them as possible, while also getting the patient’s doctor the information they need quickly. This is where you come in.
NMDPSM partners with hundreds of providers across the country. Sometimes a donor does not live near an NMDP partner clinic and cannot travel for the many steps involved in the donation process. Or sometimes a donor prefers to stay close to home. We try to accommodate the donor’s request and find a provider in their area to handle one or more steps in the donation process.
We’ve reached out to you because we need your assistance. Conducting critical donation steps and expediting test results are critical to the transplant process. Timing is important. Someone with a life-threatening disease is waiting.
Steps of donation
When someone has been identified as the best match for a patient, they participate in an information session with their donor center representative where they learn everything they need to know about donation. If they agree to move forward, they undergo a physical exam and give blood samples. After these steps are successfully completed, they proceed to donation.
There are two methods of donation: peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation and marrow donation
PBSC donation
PBSC donation is a nonsurgical procedure that takes place at a blood center or outpatient hospital facility. It is a method to collect blood-forming cells (sometimes called blood stem cells) found in circulating (peripheral) blood. These are the same stem cells found in marrow. PBSC is collected through a standard apheresis process that requires venous access with a 16- to 18-gauge needle in both arms. PBSC collections are completed in four to eight hours, over a one or two-day session.
PBSC is studied under a protocol with the FDA
NMDP is studying the use of PBSC for transplant under a clinical research study reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For five days leading up to donation, donors are given injections of a medication called filgrastim, also called rhG-CSF and marketed in the United States as Neupogen®. NMDP may also use other brands of filgrastim and similar medications, such as Releuko, Nivestym, Granix and Zarxio. This medication helps increase the number of blood-forming cells in a donor’s bloodstream. PBSC donors can expect to experience a headache or bone or muscle aches for several days before collection, a side effect of the filgrastim injections. These side effects resolve shortly after collection. Most PBSC donors report that they feel completely recovered within two weeks of donation.
Marrow donation
Marrow donation is a 60- to 90-minute surgical outpatient procedure performed under general or regional anesthesia. During the procedure, donors lie prone while marrow is withdrawn from their posterior iliac crest through several small incisions. The average amount of marrow and blood donated is about one quart. If the patient is a child or infant, less marrow is needed.
Marrow donors can expect to feel some soreness in their lower back for a few days or longer following the donation. Most marrow donors report that they feel completely recovered within three weeks of donation.
Learn more about the steps to PBSC or bone marrow donation.
Donor and patient confidentiality
We are committed to protecting the privacy of both patients and donors. We ask for your cooperation in maintaining confidentiality. This promise of confidentiality protects patients and donors from unwelcome publicity or contact, including pressure to donate or request for payment.
To help keep donor and patient identities private, identification (ID) numbers are given to each person. These ID numbers protect donor and patient identities (such as name and address), but still allow important medical information to be shared. This high level of privacy is maintained during all stages of the donation and transplant process.
The information that can be shared with the donor is limited to the patient’s age, sex and diagnosis. Under no circumstances can the patient’s name, location, blood sample destination or any other identifying information be shared.