What is an allogeneic blood or marrow transplant?

An allogeneic blood or marrow transplant (BMT) uses healthy blood-forming cells donated by someone else to replace your diseased cells. (You might also hear people call BMT a blood stem cell transplant or a bone marrow transplant.) The donor can be a family member or an unrelated person who is a close genetic match. In some cases, donated cells come from umbilical cord blood, which is collected from the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born. These cord blood units are safely stored and made available through the NMDP Registry^SM.

Tips on preparing for transplant

To find a suitable donor or cord blood unit, your doctor will test your blood to identify your human leukocyte antigens (HLA) type. These are markers your immune system uses to recognize which cells belong in your body.

Because HLA type is inherited, an unrelated donor with a similar ethnic background to the patient is often the best option if immediate family members aren’t a match. Some ethnic groups have more complex tissue types than others, which makes finding a close match more difficult. However, clinical trials and research are making it easier to find a suitable match for everyone who needs allogeneic BMT.

Download the Donor options and making treatment decisions fact sheet to learn more about how doctors use HLA typing to find the best match for you.

It’s important that you feel comfortable and empowered to ask your doctor any questions you have about receiving and preparing for an allogeneic transplant. Here are some questions to get you started:

• Which family members will you test as possible donors?
• If a family member is my donor, what will they have to do?
• What happens if I don’t have a match in my family?
• Is a reduced-intensity transplant an option? Why or why not?
• What is the difference between an allogeneic and autologous transplant?
• Is a haploidentical (half-matched) transplant an option for me?

Asking your doctor additional questions about treatment options can help you gain a better understanding of why your doctor may be recommending an allogeneic transplant.

If an allogeneic transplant is a treatment option, contact your health insurance company as soon as possible so you know what will or will not be covered. Ask questions like:

Does my policy pay for:

• Reimbursement for lodging and transportation?
• Treatment that involves clinical trials?
• Lost wages while recovering from transplant?

Questions to ask your insurance provider

Managing costs during the allogeneic transplant process can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. NMDP^SM patient navigators can help you understand transplant costs.

We also offer financial assistance to help with costs before and after transplant like:

• Copays for medicine or doctor visits
• Housing costs
• Food and gas
• Travel to and from clinical trials

A member of your transplant team (usually a social worker) or an NMDP patient navigator must submit the application on your behalf. Your transplant center can get more information at network.nmdp.org.