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By Mayo Clinic staffIf you want to donate stem cells, you can talk to your doctor or contact the National Marrow Donor Program, a federally funded nonprofit organization that keeps a database of volunteers who are willing to donate. You'll have a test called human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing. HLA are proteins found in most cells in your body. This test helps match up donors and recipients. A close match increases the chances that the transplant will be a success.
If you sign up with a donor registry, you may or may not be matched with someone who needs a blood stem cell transplant. However, if HLA typing shows that you're a match, you'll undergo additional tests to make sure you don't have any genetic or infectious diseases that can be passed to the transplant recipient. Your doctor will also ask about your health and your family history to make sure that donation will be safe for you.
HLA testing usually costs under $100. If you're identified as a match for someone who needs a transplant, the costs related to collecting stem cells for donation will be paid by that person or by his or her health insurance.
- Bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplant. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/eto_1_3_Bone_Marrow.asp. Accessed March 7, 2011.
- Bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/bone-marrow-transplant. Accessed March 7, 2011.
- Join the registry. National Marrow Donor Program. http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now/join_now.html. Accessed March 7, 2011.
- Filgrastim (granulocyte colony stimulating factor; G-CSF). Facts & Comparisons 4.0. http://www.factsandcomparisons.com. Accessed March 7, 2011.
- HLA matching: Finding the best donor or cord blood unit. National Marrow Donor Program. http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Donor_Select_Tx_Process/The_Search_Process/HLA_Matching_Finding_the_Best_/index.html#basics. Accessed March 7, 2011.
- Myths and facts about bone barrow donation. National Marrow Donor Program. http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Myths_%26_Facts_about_Marrow_Don/index.html. Accessed March 23, 2011.
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