Contact
Different people have different reasons for wanting to give stem cells. For some, they have a friend or family member with whom they are a match in type. Others just want to save lives, regardless of if they know the person or not. If you want to give your stem cells, you can contact your nearest donation center or contact the National Marrow Donor Program directly for information on how to donate.
HLA type
Before donating, you must first pay a tax-deductible fee to get your human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type. This test can cost anywhere from $50 to $100. This simple blood test determines whether or not you are a match to a potential patient who could use your stem cells. Stem cell types must match between donor and patient or else the body's immune system may reject the stem cells.
Marrow Harvesting
There are two main ways that you can donate stem cells. The first of these ways is through bone marrow. The bone marrow of your body produces many of the stem cells in your body. These stem cells can be drawn directly from your bone marrow through a bone marrow harvest. In this outpatient procedure, a needle is inserted into your back hip bone. This is done while you are under anesthesia. Over the course of up to two hours, approximately two pints of stems cells are extracted from your bone. Once the procedure is competed, you are taken to a recovery room until the anesthesia wears off, after which you can go home. You may feel some pain and discomfort for up to three weeks after the procedure and may be put under restriction from certain strenuous activities for a couple weeks.
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells
Another way that you can give stem cells is through a peripheral blood procedure. In this procedure, you are given shots of a drug called filgrastim (Neupogen) in the days leading up to the donation. This medication causes your body to produce more stem cells than normal, releasing them into the blood. On the day of your donation, you will be hooked up to an apheresis machine. This machine siphons the blood out of your body through a catheter inserted into a large vein in your arm. The blood runs into the machine, the stem cells are separated from the rest of your blood, and the blood is then pumped back into your arms. This process is repeated for up to four hours until enough stem cells are harvested. In some cases, you may need to come back again on another day until enough stem cells are extracted.
Requirements
To donate stem cells, you have to meet a specific set of requirements. First you must be between the ages of 18 and 60. You must also be of good health, and a health-screening questionnaire is required before donating. You must also sign a consent form stating that you understand any risks associated with the stem cell procedure.
