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Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center
Donating blood and marrow for transplantation is a wonderful act of selflessness. This guide will explain the process for determining whether a donor is a good match, as well as what you can expect to feel during and after the donation process. If you have any questions, please contact us at (304) 293-6859 or, after business hours, (304) 598-4127. The staff at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center's Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program is always available to help.
The special cells used for blood and marrow transplantation are called stem cells. Stem cells are a vital part of the immune system. They grow to form all of the different types of blood cells: white cells to fight infection, red cells to carry oxygen throughout the body and platelets to help with clotting. Although most stem cells are found inside the bone marrow, a small number can also be found in the bloodstream. Therefore, stem cells can be collected from either the bone marrow or the blood. The process of collecting stem cells from the blood is called apheresis. Collecting from the bone marrow is called a bone marrow harvest. A doctor will discuss how cells will be collected from you.
Deciding Who Should Donate
The decision as to who will serve as a donor is based on several factors:
- How well the patient and donor are matched, determined by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) testing (a blood test)
- The donor's age, general health and presence or absence of certain infections
- The donor's willingness to go through with the procedure
Leukocyte Antigen Testing
 For HLA testing, blood is drawn from both the patient and potential donors (usually brothers and sisters). White blood cells are separated from the rest of the cells and HLA antigens or proteins present on the surface of those cells are typed. If a donor does not live in Morgantown, his or her blood can be drawn at a local physician's office and shipped to the HLA testing laboratory.
If the potential donor appears to match after this initial testing, additional DNA typing will need to be performed. It takes approximately three weeks to receive the results of this typing.
If the blood from a brother or sister does not match, then other family members could be tested. In some cases, the doctor may recommend a search through a donor registry for a matched, unrelated bone marrow donor.
Other Medical Testing for Donors
Once a suitably matched donor has been identified, he or she must undergo additional testing. The purpose of these tests is to make sure that both the patient and donor are safe from undue risk. A donor is required to have:
- A complete physical examination and medical history
- Bloodwork
- Urinalysis
- Chest X-ray
- EKG
Other tests may be ordered if there is any question about your health. Medical testing, usually performed on an outpatient basis, must be completed within 30 days of stem cell collection. If you become ill at any time between the testing and the scheduled collection, please contact the doctor or transplant nurse coordinator immediately.
If you live outside the state, testing can be done by your local physician and the results sent to Morgantown. However, if the patient's condition requires rapid treatment, we will require you to come to Morgantown for the initial medical evaluation.
In all cases, donors must be seen by a transplant team doctor in Morgantown at least once before the patient receiving the transplant begins therapy. If you are having second thoughts, this is the time to discuss them. Once a patient starts treatment, a donor's change of heart will be life-threatening. Before donating your stem cells you will be given consent forms that describe in simple terms the risks and side effects associated with the donation procedure. It is important that you understand these forms before you sign them.
Financial Issues
The costs associated with donating blood and bone marrow (genetic typing, medical tests, harvesting, etc.) are billed to the transplant recipient's insurance, and are usually covered. However, if the recipient's insurance does not cover these costs, they will be billed to the donor's insurance. If you have questions about your specific insurance coverage please contact one of our program's transplant nurse coordinators.
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This is a publication of the Blood and Marrow Transplatation Program of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and Ruby Memorial Hospital at West Virginia University’s Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.
Acknowledgment: Funding for this handbook was provided by Annette, Marc and Darren Tanner in memory of Douglas H. Tanner.
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