Information for Donors

If you are between the ages of 18 to 35 then you are in the ideal age bracket to register to become a stem cell donor.

In order to register to become a stem cell donor you’ll be asked some basic eligibility questions and will need to provide a saliva sample using a cheek swap.

You will then be placed on the donor registry. If you are a match with a patient in need, you will be contacted and if you agree will either – in the great majority of cases – donate your peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) by way of a blood donation. This is done in specialised hospitals in major cities around Australia. It is an outpatient procedure, so you’ll not be required to stay overnight. This is by far the most common method and applies in around 90% of cases.

In certain instances, a bone marrow donation may be required. If you are a bone marrow match you’ll be asked to donate bone marrow from your hip. This is collected from thr donor under anaesthesia ensuring the procedure itself is pain-free. Post surgery discomfort is typically managed with simple pain relief like paracetamol. A bone marrow donation is required in only 8% -10% of cases.

When looking for a donor, Stem Cell Donors Australia looks at the following criteria to ensure they have a donor match:

• Tissue Type – the HLA‘s – proteins on the surface of our white blood cells and other tissues in our body – are used to determine your tissue type. HLA contains five genes and for each of these genes you have two different versions – one from each of your parents – and these are called ‘alleles’. Each allele provides you with 10 possible ways you can be a donor match. The best possible match is a 10 out of 10.
• Cytomegalovirus CMV – all donors and recipients are tested for this common virus. A match will have the same CMV status, either both being positive or both being negative.
• Donor age – research shows that transplants from younger donors are more successful. However often a recipient does not have that option and donor match is the overriding requirement.