Steps of Bone Marrow or PBSC Donation

The first step to becoming a bone marrow donor is to join the Be The Match Registry^SM. Thousands of patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases depend on the Be The Match Registry to find a matching donor to save their life. If a patient's doctor selects you as the best match, you will be asked to donate either bone marrow or cells from circulating blood (known as PBSC donation).

Be The Match Registry is the new name for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry. If you joined the NMDP Registry, either in person or online, you are a member of Be The Match Registry and do not need to join again. Learn more about Be The Match.

1. Join the Be The Match Registry Anyone age 18 - 60 who is willing to donate to any patient in need and meets the health guidelines can join. You'll complete a short health questionnaire and sign a form stating you understand what being on our registry means. Then you give a swab of cheek cells or small blood sample to be tested, and your information is added to the registry -- join now.
2. Stay committed and available Doctors search our registry to find a donor who is a close match for their patient. If you are identified as a possible match for a patient, we will contact you. If you agree to proceed, we will schedule more testing. (For more information, see When You’re Contacted as a Possible Match.)
3. Attend an information session If you are selected as the best donor for a patient, we will invite you to to learn about the donation process, risks and side effects. Please feel free to bring a friend or family member to your information session. We will let you know if the doctor has requested a bone marrow donation or PBSC donation. Then you can decide whether or not to donate. (For more information, see When You’re Asked to Donate for a Patient.)
4. Receive a physical exam If you agree to donate, you will have a physical exam to make sure the donation is safe for both you and the patient.
5. Bone marrow donation Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure. While you receive anesthesia, doctors use special, hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bones. Many donors receive a transfusion of their own previously donated blood.	5. PBSC Donation PBSC donation takes place at an apheresis center. For 5 days leading up to donation, you will receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim to move more blood-forming cells out of the marrow and into the bloodstream. Your blood is then removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to you through the other arm. This process is similar to donating plasma.
6. Side effects and recovery You can expect to feel some soreness in your lower back for a few days or longer. Most donors are back to their normal routine in a few days. Your marrow is completely replaced within four to six weeks.	6. Side effects and recovery You may experience headache or bone or muscle aches for several days before collection, a side effect of the filgrastim injections. These effects disappear shortly after collection.
7. Follow-up We will follow up with you until you are able to resume normal activity. After that, we will call you annually for long-term follow up.