Stem Cell Donation

Overview

Healthy adults ages 18 to 60 can donate stem cells. Children may be donors for themselves or a sibling. In some cases, people who are older than 60 can donate.

If you wish to be a stem cell donor, a blood sample is taken from you and tested for tissue type. It's then compared with the tissue types of people who need a transplant. If a match is found, another blood sample will be taken. This is to see if your tissue type matches well enough for the transplant.

If you are chosen as a stem cell donor, you will have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked questions about your health and your family history of diseases. And you'll be asked to sign a consent form to have the procedure.

How it's done

Collecting or harvesting stem cells from your blood is called apheresis. Stem cells can also be collected from your bone marrow.

Before the donation

• If stem cells will be collected from your blood, you will get shots for a few days before you donate. The shots help your bone marrow make and send more stem cells into your bloodstream. The medicine in the shots may cause bone and muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. These side effects usually go away 2 or 3 days later.
• If stem cells will be collected from the bone marrow, the shots to help the bone marrow make more stem cells are usually not needed. Follow any instructions your doctor gives you about what you can eat or drink before your donation.

During the donation

Donations are done in a blood center or hospital.

• If stem cells are being collected from your blood:
  • You will have a needle in a vein in your arm to take your blood. Your blood is sent through a machine that takes out the stem cells and saves them. Then your blood is sent back into you through a needle in your other arm. If the veins in your arm won't work, the doctor may put a catheter in your neck or chest instead. In that case, local anesthesia is used.
  • The donation takes from 4 to 5 hours. You won't be able to move around during that time.
  • It's not unusual to feel lightheaded, have chills, feel numbness around your lips, or have cramping in your hands during the donation.
  • The donation may need to be repeated, usually just the next day. It depends on how many stem cells are needed.
• If a bone marrow collection is done:
  • You will have a regional or general anesthetic.
  • The marrow is usually removed from the back of your pelvic bone using a special hollow needle.
  • The procedure takes 1 to 2 hours.

After the donation

• If stem cells were taken from your blood, you can go home after the donation and resume your normal activities. If the donation needs to be repeated and a catheter is used, you may need to stay overnight in the hospital.
• If stem cells were taken from your bone marrow, you will probably stay in the hospital for several hours. You can expect to be sore in your lower back for a few weeks. Most people can return to work in about 1 week.

Your bone marrow will make new stem cells to replace the ones you donated.

In rare cases, temporary anemia and low platelet counts may occur after a person donates stem cells from their bloodstream.