Question: How do I become a volunteer bone marrow donor?
Answer: You must be between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good general health. A simple blood test given through an authorized NMDP Donor Center or Recruitment Group is needed to obtain your HLA tissue type so it can be entered onto the NMDP Registry.UPDATE Note:(Sept. 29,2004) A bone marrow donor drive will be held in Easley on November 18th. Please click here for full details about when, where and how to donate at this drive.
Question:What does NMDP stand for?
Question:Who covers the expenses of becoming a donor and the actual donation?
Answer: The National Marrow Donor Program
Answer: The blood test performed to add you to the Registry identifies your HLA tissue type. The cost for the test is generally $70 to $96, depending on the Donor Center and the laboratory that completes the test. Some Donor Centers cover part of the cost of the testing for donors of whole blood or blood components. There also may be funding available or a waiting list through the Donor Center.After the initial testing, all medical expenses are covered by the patient or the patient's insurance.
Question:Would I travel to donate to the patient?
Answer: No. The collection of marrow or blood stem cells is usually done locally at an NMDP Collection Center or Apheresis Center. The stem cells are then transported by a specially trained courier to the patient.
Question:How do I contact a Donor Center about becoming a volunteer donor?
Answer: In North and South Carolina, contact the American Red Cross 1-800-228-1496. Ask for the branch office nearest you. Branch offices are in Asheville, Durham, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Charleston (SC), Greenville (SC), Columbia (SC). For information about Donor Centers in other states, please contact us and we will supply that information.
Question: How do I join the NMDP?
Answer: To arrange to be tested call the Donor Center in your state first. Usually, a testing kit can be sent to you after consent forms are returned to the Donor Center. Before you are tested, you will be asked to complete a consent form and answer questions about your medical history. A small amount of blood will be drawn from your arm to determine your tissue type. Your tissue type will then be listed on the NMDP Registry, where it will be compared with the tissue types of patients searching for a match. You will only be contacted if you are a potential match for a patient. Medical questions you may have should be directed to your local Donor Center. For other questions or concerns, please call 1-800-Marrow-2 or log onto www.marrow.org.
