Finding a Donor

Information here is about finding a donor and the process involved in becoming a donor for a bone-marrow or stem-cell transplant.

 

• The Allogeneic Donor
• Recovering from Harvesting
• Timeframe for Donor and Follow-up

The Allogeneic Donor (Please note: This section does not apply to people using their own stem cells, also referred to as autologous transplant patients.)

A bone-marrow or stem cell donor will need to be identified by HLA Typing before the person receiving the transplant comes to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

For an allogeneic transplant, the donor will be a family member or an unrelated person from a bone marrow registry. The donor will have stem cells harvested from bone marrow or collected from the bloodstream (peripheral blood stem cells - PBSC).

There are two methods of obtaining stem cells from the donor:

• Stem Cell Collection – Stem cells can now be collected non-surgically in a process called apheresis. Donors are given a book called, "Stem Cell Collection: A Guide for Donors." If you have any questions, you may contact a member of the apheresis team between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at (206) 288-2120.
• Bone Marrow – Harvesting Bone marrow is "harvested" from the hip bone (pelvis) in a procedure done in the operating room. The donor receives anethesia. After the donor enters the hospital, the anesthesiologist will explain the possible risks.

During the harvest, transplant physicians use a special syringe and needle to remove (aspirate) the bone marrow. The marrow is placed in sterile containers and filtered. The amount of marrow taken is based on the patient's and donor's body weight.

After the harvest, most adult donors receive a unit of their own blood back to help maintain normal blood volume. This blood is taken from an arm vein several days before the marrow harvest and is stored at the blood bank. Children under 12 usually do not store their own blood. Blood from the blood bank will be available during the harvesting procedure but will not be used unless absolutely necessary.

Recovery from Harvesting

Most people will be discharged after the procedure on the same day. Follow-up is arranged at SCCA to check for any signs of bleeding or infection. The donor's bone marrow quickly produces new cells, but donors are also given supplemental iron tablets to help speed the production of red cells.

Donors may experience pain, swelling, and tenderness around the harvest area. Donors are encouraged to move around and walk to lessen stiffness.

 

Timeframe for Donor and Follow-up

Donors should plan on being at SCCA for three full working days for evaluation and consent review. Donors arrive generally when the transplant patient arrives. The donor will have a conference with the medical team to review the role of the donor and the process for donation. The donation date most likely will not be confirmed by the time the donor leaves, as it is timed to the patient's conditioning therapy.

The donor may leave SCCA after the evaluation is complete and return for the marrow donation (usually a week or two later). The donor then needs to return several days before the collection for a blood draw and an update of the medical history and physical examination.