You're a match

What happens next?

This news may have come as a surprise to you.  

1. Read this guide carefully. It will tell you all about stem cell transplant, and what it means for you and the person receiving your donation. 

2. Talk it over. Discuss the idea of donating with those close to you before agreeing to the next stage. You can change your mind at any time, but to avoid letting the patient down we want to make sure you’re well informed before you make a decision. If you decide you no longer want to donate that’s completely your choice but please let your coordinator know as soon as possible so we can tell the patient’s Transplant Centre. 

3. Give blood samples. If you are still keen to donate we’ll need some blood samples from you to make sure you’re a suitable match for the patient. Read on to find out what’s involved. 

Can I claim expenses during my donation?

Worried about taking time off work, unemployed or studying? We cover travel, food & drink costs and loss of earnings. We don’t want you to lose out financially because of your donation so we’ll reimburse all reasonable expenses. This includes paying for and arranging all travel and accommodation for you and a companion.

The decision  

Can you donate? 

If you have any of the following conditions or diseases, or received treatment for them since joining Anthony Nolan, you will be unable to donate: 

This isn’t an exhaustive list so be sure to speak to your coordinator at Anthony Nolan. 

• Cancer (excluding basal cell carcinoma and cervical carcinoma in situ) 

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

• Insulin controlled diabetes (If you have Type 2 diabetes and it is well controlled with diet or anti-diabetic tablets, you’re still eligible to donate) 

• Epilepsy (If you’ve had an epileptic event in the last year, or are currently requiring medication) 

• Heart attack or angina 

• Pulmonary embolism 

• Autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis 

• Stroke or brain haemorrhage due to trauma 

• HIV/AIDS 

You will also be unable to donate if:

• You’ve given birth within the last six months, or you are pregnant now 

• You are very overweight or underweight (please see the following section ‘Your Height and Weight’ for more guidance) 

Also, you may not be able to donate right now if any of the following apply to you: 

• Someone you have had sex with is HIV positive 

• You or someone you’ve had sex with is Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C positive 

• Has taken or given money or drugs in exchange for sex 

• Has been sexually active with partners from areas of the world where HIV/AIDS is common  

• You’ve injected yourself with illegal or non-prescription drugs including body building drugs, unless it has been prescribed by a licensed medical professional 

• Is involved in high-risk sexual practices that may increase your risk of exposure to transmissible diseases 

• You’ve had a tattoo, body piercing or cosmetic procedure in the last three months at an unlicensed establishment 

• You’ve had treatment with pituitary- derived human growth hormones 

• You’ve received a blood transfusion given outside Western Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand 

When you fill in your medical update form we’ll ask if any of the conditions listed apply to you. If they do, we may need to contact you to find out a few more details. If you have any questions about these conditions, or are not sure if they apply to you, please discuss this with your coordinator. 

Deciding to donate 

How do I donate?

There are two methods of donating.

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are blood stem cells that can be collected straight from the blood stream. This method is used 90% of the time when donating for a patient.

Bone marrow donation is where stem cells are collected directly from the bone marrow in your hip bone while you’re under a general anaesthetic.  This method is less common and is used in 10% of all donations.

Here is some important information on your donor journey as well as things to consider before donating your stem cells. Please have a read through to ensure donating is the right thing for you.

Deciding that you want to donate is a big commitment and you should consider it very carefully. 

The preparation

The next step 

To find out if you’re a match for the patient we need some blood samples from you using a needle to perform some further testing. 

Taking a blood sample 

We can arrange for a nurse to visit you to take the blood samples. They will bring the blood sample test kit with them and will send it back to us once the samples have been taken. 

Alternatively, if you have friends, family or colleagues who are trained phlebotomists please feel free to ask them to take the blood samples for you, we will send you the blood sample kit in the post with all instructions. 

Medical Questionnaire 

The medical update form is crucial – without this, we cannot proceed with testing your blood samples. Please ensure you complete and submit the online medical form before you have the samples taken.

It’s natural that since joining our register you may have experienced changes in your health. It’s important that you let us know about any changes on the medical update form. We’ll treat all your personal details in the strictest confidence. 

Hepatitis E virus advice 

There has been a rise in the number of people acquiring the Hepatitis E virus in the UK over the last few years. The most common way people catch this infection in the UK is through eating raw or undercooked meat (particularly pork products) and shellfish. Please can we ask you to be really careful. Most healthy people infected with Hepatitis E have no symptoms, and the infection clears within a couple of months, but it can be very risky if transmitted to patients having a stem cell transplant. 

Tattoos, body piercings and cosmetic procedures 

There is a very small risk of exposure to transmissible diseases from some tattoos and body piercings. We ask that you consider delaying having any new tattoos or body piercings whilst being tested and if you are a match until after you have donated. 

If you already have a tattoo or body piercing planned in the next few months, please discuss with your coordinator as soon as possible. 

Your height and weight 

The upper limit for Body Mass Index (BMI) is 40 for Peripheral Blood Stem Cell donation (PBSC) and 35 for bone marrow donation. Ideally donors should weigh over 50kg but we still allow people to donate if they are under that weight - it may just be harder for us to reach the target cell count depending on the size of the patient.

Confirming you’re a match 

Please be patient. Testing can take up to 8 weeks from when we have received your blood samples and we will be in contact to confirm whether or not you’re a successful match. Both Anthony Nolan laboratory and the patient’s hospital are testing your blood samples. Sometimes several potential donors are identified at once. The hospital will test multiple samples to decide which donor is best for their patient.  

Sometimes another donor is a better match for the patient and you will not be asked to donate. Which means you will be searchable on the stem cell register for other patients. 

Thank you for agreeing to donate. It’s a very special thing you’ve signed up to do, and for that reason, we want you to know as much as possible about the things you may encounter on your personal donor journey.

Post Donation 

Thank you!

We’d like to say a massive thank you for doing something so incredible. You’ve made a huge difference to the life of your recipient.