Who can be a donor?
Asian Indians can accept bone marrow from another Asian Indian only. If you are an Asian Indian, between age of 18 and 60, and meet the health guidelines, you can be a donor.
How complicated is it to find out if you are a match?
The test for marrow match is very simple - just a blood draw or even simpler - an oral swab!. And it is absolutely FREE for minority races.
How and where can I get tested for a match?
You can get tested for a match in one of the following ways whichever is most convinient to you.
How soon can a woman donate Marrow after delivery?
As long as the woman is healthy, she can donate the marrow. There is no set time. Marrow bank will make sure that the person is medically fit before they draw the marrow.
How long should I be in US before I can donate Marrow?
There is NO restriction in doing blood test and donating the marrow. Visiting India or any other country is not a restriction for marrow donation.
Does donor have any side effect?
There are NO long-term side effects for the donor. Your marrow is completely replaced by your body within four to six weeks.
How can I donate?
1. Join the Registry
Anyone age 18 - 60 who meets the health guidelines can join. Volunteers should be committed to helping any patient. To join, you complete a short health questionnaire and sign a form stating that you understand what it means to be listed on the Registry. Then, a small blood sample is taken to find your tissue type. This information is added to the Registry.
2. Stay committed and available
Doctors search the Registry to find a donor whose tissue type matches their patient's. If you are chosen, your donor center will contact you. If you agree, more testing will be scheduled.
3. Attend an information session
You will meet with staff from your donor center to learn about the donation process, risks and side effects. You are free to bring a friend or family member. You will also be told which source of blood-forming cells is being requested - either collected from the marrow or from the circulating blood (known as a PBSC donation). You will then decide whether or not to donate.
4. Receive a physical exam
If you agree to donate, you will be given a physical exam to discover if donating would pose any special risks to you or the patient.
5. Marrow donation
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.
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.
7. Follow-up
Your NMDP donor center coordinator will follow up with you until you are able to resume normal activity.
Related Medical Procedure
Registering
- While registering, take a simple blood test. 5-7 drops of blood is drawn from the arm.
- If you are identified as an initial match, an additional blood test will have to be done.
- Donating Bone Marrow is NOT like donating kidney or another organ.
Donating Bone Marrow
- If you are the one potential match out of 10,000 donors and agree to save Nirali's life; the following is the donor procedure
- Under anesthesia 10-15cc of bone marrow is drawn from the back of your pelvic bone using a needle.
- This is about 3% of your total bone marrow.
Donor's Recovery
- Most donors are back to normal routine next day.
- You can expect some soreness in your lower back for couple of days.
- Your marrow is completely replaced by your body within four to six weeks.
No Side effects
- There are NO long-term side effects for the donor.
Still have questions
You can call SAMAR at (718) 592-0821 if you have any questions of need more information.