Myths & facts about peripheral blood stem cell and bone marrow donation
Are you considering donating peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow? There are many misconceptions surrounding who can donate and the donation process. Our team of medical experts is here to clear up the biggest myths and help you understand how you could be the life-saving difference for someone in need.
Both peripheral blood stem cell and bone marrow donation is less painful than you probably think.
Discomfort and side effects vary from person to person, but it’s nothing like what you see on TV. Some of the common side effects of PBSC donation are headaches, nausea and tiredness—from the daily shots of a drug called filgrastim or an FDA-approved similar administered in the 5 days leading up to donation.
For a bone marrow donation, you experience no pain before or during the procedure, but you may feel sore or achy for a few days afterward.
Donating is absolutely free—you’ll not pay anything for giving peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow.
All of your medical and travel expenses are covered by NMDPSM, and we can also help cover any lost wages due to donation.
Do donors have to travel to donate blood stem cells or bone marrow?
Most blood stem cell donations do not require surgery. 90% of donations are done through a process similar to donating blood or plasma through an IV.
In some cases, a surgical procedure is needed to donate bone marrow, but it’s less common and performed under anesthesia by experienced medical professionals. NMDP ensures donors are fully informed about the donation method and what to expect before moving forward.
You won’t go through the donation process alone. From the moment you’re identified as a potential match, NMDP provides guidance, resources and support every step of the way. You are assigned a coordinator who is available to answer questions and coordinates your care before, during and after donation.
NMDP also covers all donation-related expenses and can arrange and pay for a companion (e.g., friend, family member, significant other) to accompany you.
Donation is completely voluntary, but it’s important to join the NMDP RegistrySM with the intent to donate if matched to a patient.
Patients may have very few matching donors, and in some cases, you could be their only option.
If you’re identified as a match and later choose not to proceed, it can be life-threatening for the patient and emotionally difficult for both the patient and their family. By joining the registry, you’re making a meaningful commitment to be there if you’re called—a decision that can truly save a life.
Joining the registry does not mean you will donate immediately. Sometimes it takes months or years for someone to be called as a match. Other people may never be called.
If you’re selected as a possible match, NMDP will contact you, explain the next steps and confirm your willingness to move forward before any donation takes place.
We take protecting your privacy and confidentiality seriously.
NMDP has rules in place to protect your privacy. Unless we have your permission or are required by law, any personal data you provide us will be shared only with other NMDP entities and/or business partners who are acting on your behalf.
After you donate, a trained courier takes your blood stem cells directly to the patient’s hospital for transplant.
It doesn’t take long to save someone’s life.
Between the phone calls, appointments and the donation process itself, expect to spend about 20-30 hours total over a period of 4-6 weeks completing all the steps necessary for donation.
NMDP works with donors to schedule appointments in advance and minimize disruption to work or school. If you are required to miss work, NMDP can compensate you for lost wages.
Donating will not impact your immigration status. If you’re selected as a match, NMDP works to arrange donation at a location as close to you as possible and most donations take place within the United States.
If travel is required, all arrangements and associated costs are coordinated and covered by NMDP, and donors are never required to travel internationally to donate.
You can remain on the NMDP Registry even if you move to a new city, change schools or live in a different country. It’s important to keep your contact information up to date so NMDP can reach you if you’re identified as a match.
If you’ve moved to a different country since joining the registry, NMDP will coordinate donation at a location convenient to you and cover any related travel expenses to ensure you’re still able to donate.
You can update your contact information online by managing your member profile.
Most blood stem cell donors give peripheral blood stem cells—a process similar to donating plasma.
Some think that the only way to donate blood stem cells is through a surgical procedure. The reality is about 90% of donations are peripheral blood stem cells, which involves no surgery at all!
The other 10% of the time, people are asked to donate bone marrow. While this is a surgical procedure, no bones are opened up or removed. Instead, while the donor is under anesthesia, a doctor removes the marrow from the back of the pelvic bone using a hollow needle. The process typically takes less than an hour and is considered a minimally invasive procedure.
It’s a common misconception that donating peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow is dangerous. The truth is that there are actually very few risks associated with donating marrow and peripheral blood stem cells!
The genetic typing used to match donors to patients is much more complex than matching blood type.
- A patient and donor do not need to have the same blood type.
- Matching is based on your human leukocyte antigen (HLA), proteins—or markers—found on most cells in your body.
- The patient’s blood type will change to the donor’s blood type after transplant.
Learn more about how patients and blood stem cell donors are matched.
Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are allowed to join the registry and donate. You won’t be asked about your sexual orientation when registering because it doesn’t factor into choosing the best possible match for a patient.
Learn more about how donations from the LGBTQIA+ community spreads hope for patients in need.
Ethnic background is an important factor for doctors to consider when matching donors and patients.
- Because HLA markers are inherited, a patient is more likely to match with a donor who shares their ethnic background.
- Adding more registry members with diverse ethnic backgrounds can help increase the variety of tissue types available, helping more patients find the match they need.
Learn more about why ethnicity and diversity matter when matching.
Some believe that the age guidelines we have in place are to discriminate against those 36 and older. However, these guidelines are meant to protect the safety of both the patient and the donor while still providing the best possible outcome. The latest medical research shows that:
- Donors between the ages of 18-30 provide the greatest chance for transplant success.
- Doctors request donors in the 18-30 age group nearly 70% of the time.
Learn more about why a donor’s age matters.
Anyone between the ages of 18-35 who meets the medical guidelines can donate, regardless of gender. Certain medical guidelines like age or pregnancy restrictions are put in place to protect the health of all donors and patients.
Certain guidelines, like pregnancy, wouldn’t prevent someone from joining the registry. However, while pregnant or attempting to become pregnant, you must be temporarily deferred from donating until fully recovered from the delivery. Marrow or peripheral blood stem cells cannot be collected at any time during pregnancy.
Tattoos and piercings do not disqualify you, and having a past medical condition doesn't automatically exclude you. There’s a health questionnaire to determine eligibility, and some conditions may only cause a temporary deferral.