Core services

If a transplant centre or registry sends a search request using our search request form, we can:

• Search the Anthony Nolan & NHS Stem Cell Register for matched donors and return the results within 48 hours
• Search international registers for UK transplant centres using WMDA Search and Match Service and return results from listed registries within 72 hours
• Obtain full unit reports on individual cord blood units from UK and international cord blood banks and forward them to the transplant centre.

For more information, please email customer.service@anthonynolan.org.

When a matched donor or cord blood unit is found, we facilitate the procurement of the following samples for testing at the requesting transplant centre or associated laboratory:

• Verification Typing (VT)
• Extended typing 
• Virology  

For more information, please email customer.service@anthonynolan.org.

We can provide laboratory services and can facilitate the following requests:

• HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DRB3, -DRB4, -DRB5, -DQB1 and -DPB1 to support transplantation 
• ABO RhD blood group typing of HSC donors and patients
• Virology screening (CMV, HIV, HBsAg, HCV) of potential HSC donors and patients
• Antibody screening
• HLA typing for disease association
• HLA typing for drug hypersensitivity
• Genetic mutation, eg. HFE and CCR5
• Solid organ services, eg. Crossmatching
• Services to support solid organ transplantation 

For more information on these services, please contact customer.service@anthonynolan.org or visit our webpage.

We support with the provision of stem cells from UK and International donors, including cord blood unit shipments. 

For UK donor provisions:

• We support donors throughout the provision process, from request through to donation and follow up
• We arrange a full medical assessment
• If donors are donating via PBSC, we arrange a healthcare provider to administer a four-day course of G-CSF injections
• We organise any travel and accommodation required for the donor and a companion
• We arrange the collection of stem cells from the donor via PBSC, bone marrow or DLC
• For UK patients we arrange transportation of the donated product to the requesting transplant centre 

For international donor provisions:

• We liaise with international registries or donor centres to ensure international donors proceed to donation for a UK recipient, as requested by a UK transplant centre
• We relay information quickly, taking into consideration different time zones, language barriers and varying practices amongst registries, e.g. collection procedures, infectious disease marker (IDM) testing
• We arrange transportation of the donated product to the requesting transplant centre 

For cord provisions:

• We arrange cord shipments from Anthony Nolan, UK and international cord blood banks
• For Anthony Nolan cord blood units there is no charge to reserve, and quality control (QC) testing starts immediately on receipt of reservation. There is no charge for cancelling shipment of an Anthony Nolan unit until shipment has bugun.
• On receipt of a shipment request for any international cord blood unit, we immediately liaise with the international cord bank to ensure that all mandatory IDM testing has been or will be completed prior to shipment
• We work with international cord banks to get all the QC testing results that the requesting transplant centre require 

For more information on these services, please contact customer.service@anthonynolan.org.

Our dedicated Patient Services team is here to provide support and information for patients and their families throughout their transplant and recovery. They can provide:

• Dedicated support and advice over phone and email for patients and their families
• Information and guides specific to stem cell transplant, including our range of free booklets, blogs and video from patients and experts.
• Our free My Transplant Tracker app to help patients manage their recovery from transplant.
• A Patients and Families Online forum where patients can share their experiences, plus a peer support phone service. 
• Grants to help cover the hidden costs of stem cell transplant, such as travel to follow-up appointments.
• Advice for anyone returning to work after their transplant. 
• Free events including our Patient and Family Education Days around the UK, joining our team at the British Transplant Games; and our new Anthony Nolan Family Camp in partnership with Over The Wall for young transplant patients.

For further information please visit anthonynolan.org/patients or email customer.service@anthonynolan.org. 

Our fully trained and motivated group of over 60 volunteers are available to collect stem cells from around the world to deliver them to patients in the UK. They understand the transportation criteria and, by using our fantastic volunteer couriers, we can offer direct savings to our transplant centres in comparison to using commercial couriers.

Each courier is equipped with the latest temperature regulating transportation boxes specially designed for couriering blood products safely for up to 72 hours. They are trained extensively to deal with any travel variations they experience on route with continuing training and support from us every year.

Couriers who are assigned to your product transportation will remain in contact with you making sure you are updated with any variations to their travel along the way.