(Click on the Movie Clapperboard icon in the red box above to view the ACLT recruitment drive video)
YOU CAN BE A LIFE-SAVER
Thank you for taking the first step toward saving the life of a patient in need. Currently only 4 out of 10 patients are able to find a matching donor who can save their life
Check if you are eligible:
Potential donors MUST:
Be between the ages of 16 and 55
Be in good general health
Weigh more than 7 stone 12lbs
Not be HIV-positive
Not have severe heart disease
Not have a history of cancer
Not have autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis
Not have severe asthma (daily inhalers are acceptable)
Not have diabetes requiring insulin
Not have hepatitis
Not have epilepsy
Not have chronic or severe back problems (history of back surgery needs evaluation)
Eligibility Requirements
Potential donors are asked to share personal information such as age, address, telephone number and a brief clinical history. This information is private but is included on the Anthony Nolan or NBS database. It is not shared with any 3rd parties.
For umbilical cord donations, any healthy, pregnant woman who has a normal vaginal delivery is eligible to donate cord blood stem cells.
Read about the donation process:
If you are found to be a match, there are two ways to donate. The donation method is determined by the patient's doctor:
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC)
Cells are collected via the bloodstream.
In this method, cells are collected via the bloodstream. To increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream, donors receive a daily injection of a synthetic protein called filgrastim for 4 days before the collection.
On the day of collection the donor's blood is then removed from one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood stem cells. The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm. The cell collection is an outpatient procedure which takes about 4 hours and is done over a 1-2 day period.
Possible side effects and recovery:
Most donors experience headaches, or bone or muscle aches several days before the collection. This is a side effect of the filgrastim injections. The achiness subsides shortly after the collection.
Bone Marrow Extraction
Marrow cells are collected from the backside of the pelvic bone using a special syringe. This is a 1-2 hour procedure. The donor is discharged from the hospital the following day. Marrow cells are collected from the back of the pelvic bone using a special syringe. Prior to having this procedure, donors receive general anaesthesia so no pain is experienced during the marrow extraction.
Possible side effects and recovery:
Donors can expect to feel discomfort in their lower back and may experience side effects from the anaesthesia, such as nausea, sore throat or light headedness. The marrow completely regenerates within a few weeks.
Pictures Courtesy of DKMS
Please click here to find out where you can go to register as a potential bone marrow donor. Thank you
