Are there any regional collection points for bone marrow samples from potential donors?

[TygrBright]

I would be willing to become a donor if needed, but my understanding is that the first step is having a sample taken (ouch!) and mapped and typed. I don't know if there are any southwestern US hospitals, Red Cross or other facilities who've put out the call.

Does anyone know if this is being done?

curiously,
Bright

[hlthe2b]

1. I think I read that the Europeans are already organizing...

I haven't heard anything here, but recall our sending many doctors to the Ukraine, post Chernobyl, so it will be a likely prospect.

[Solly Mack]

2. The sample is just a swab of the cheek cells.

You can call your local Red Cross and ask them about their bone marrow donation program.


This is the National Marrow Donor Program
http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_in_Person/US_Donor_Centers/dc_list_by_state.pl

[TygrBright]

3. Cool! Thank you.

I admit, I sorta funked the idea of actually having a sample taken from an actual bone, but I'll suck on a Q-tip for a good cause any day.

appreciatively,
Bright

[Solly Mack]

4. Well...the initial swabbing is the easy part. :)

They determine if you can be a donor and do all the initial typing from your samples. You then go into a registry.

If you're called to be a donor it does get a little more involved.

[kas125]

6. That's the link to Be the Match. I joined a couple years ago

and at the time, they had a grant from someone that was paying for the testing for 250,000 people. They mail the test kit to you and all you do is take four q-tip swabs of your cheeks and mail them back. It's the tissue typing that costs money, but I can't remember now how much it was since I didn't have to pay it. Hopefully, that grant isn't used up yet!

[applegrove]

5. I was thinking the same thing when someone posted about bone marrow hospitals

in europe being asked to be on standby. Then I thought - but would I be a match?