How to become a marrow donor (SF Bay Area)

Reprinted from Stanford School of Medicine Blood Center - How To Become A Marrow Donor

Health & Safety Requirements
- Be between 18 & 60 years of age
- Weight normal for height and age (not more than 25% over)
- No auto-immune disease
- No personal history of cancer or diabetes
- No hip, neck or back problems
- No asthma

1. Contact Stanford Blood Center's Marrow Donor Coordinator and make an appointment to donate blood and request that it be screened for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Phone 650-723-5532 or e-mail NMDP_SMSBC@hotmail.com. A limited number of screening appointments are available to blood donors each week and at no charge.

2. Your blood will be HLA-Screened for the NMDP when you donate a pint for the community. HLA typing (Human Leukocyte Antigen) and virology (infectious disease) testing is done at Stanford laboratories. After eligibility is determined, your blood donation will be used to meet local patient needs. Your HLA type is entered at the Stanford Blood Center and forwarded to the National Marrow Donor Program electronically. The NMDP searches for matches for patients worldwide. Only the Blood Center knows donor names and addresses.

Note: The Stanford blood center offers marrow testing without blood donations for minorities.

3. When a preliminary match is determined by the NMDP, you will receive a call or letter from the Blood Center asking you to give another blood sample for further testing. If the tissue typing determines you are compatible, a special informational meeting with a Blood Center physician and the Donor Coordinator is scheduled. The Transplant Center caring for the recipient will inform us whether they want you to undergo Marrow Harvest or Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) collection. After being fully informed, you then can make the final decision on giving your stem cells.

4. You will be given a complete physical exam at the Stanford Hospital and Clinics and meet the Transplant Team. There is no charge to the donor.

5. Prior to a bone marrow harvest, a donor gives at least one unit (pint) of blood for their own use prior to the marrow collection procedure in the event a transfusion is needed. PBSC donors receive granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) injections prior to their procedure.

6. Marrow/Stem Cell donations are scheduled at least two weeks in advance, giving the donor time to arrange business and personal commitments. Your "Living Gift of Life" will be delivered to your patient by the Blood Center staff and you will be released from the hospital the day after your donation.

7.The Blood Center staff will keep you informed of your patient's progress. The names of the donor and the recipient are kept confidential. Donors and recipients may sign a special release to allow direct contact one year after transplant.

Make an appointment via this online form now to donate blood and be tested. Testing facilities include:

Stanford Blood Center
780 Welch Road, Suite 100
Palo Alto

Stanford Blood Center
515 South Drive, Suite 20
Mountain View