Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions and the answers. For more information please contact us.
- Do bone marrow, stem cell and cord blood transplants save lives?
- What are my costs?
- Why can't I join if I lived in the UK between 1980 and 1996 for more than 6 months?
- Why is there a need for unrelated donors?
- Why is the probability of finding a match higher within the same community/ethnic group?
- Why must I be 18-40 years of age?
- Why do I need to sign a consent form?
- Are stem cell and bone marrow donation and transplants permitted under Halachic laws?
- How long will I remain on the Registry?
- Can I be a donor if I had cancer?
- Can I be tested only for someone I know?
- When will I hear from the Registry?
- Can I choose between donating bone marrow or stem cells?
- What are the risks for me?
- Can I donate if I'm pregnant?
- Can I donate again?
- Are my details treated confidentially?
- May I contact the patient who receives my stem cells?
- Do I need to travel if patient is overseas?
- How do I contact the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry to check or update my contact details?
- What are my costs?
None other than time... ABMDR covers all costs.
back to top - Why can't I join if I lived in the UK between 1980 and 1996 for more than 6 months?
Because of the possible risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob [mad cow] disease.
back to top - Do bone marrow, stem cell and cord blood transplants save lives?
Yes, definitely.
back to top - Why is there a need for unrelated donors?
Only 1 in 3 patients in need of a transplant find a donor within their family.
back to top - Why is the probability of finding a match higher within the same community/ethnic group?
Because tissue type/DNA is inherited, a match is more likely within similar ancestry.
back to top - Why must I be 18-40 years of age?
Age is only a concern for unrelated donors. The younger the stem cells, the better the outcome.
back to top - Why do I need to sign a consent form?
Joining the registry is a commitment to make a donation to a patient in need.
back to top - Are stem cell and bone marrow donation and transplants permitted under Halachic laws?
Yes. In fact becoming a donor is encouraged by all and considered a life saving Mitzvah (pikuach nefesh).
back to top - How long will I remain on the Registry?
Until your 57th birthday.
back to top - Can I be a donor if I had cancer?
Any health problems such as malignant cancer, heart disease or auto immune disorders may defer you from becoming a donor, but you can still help by encouraging friends and family to join the registry.
back to top - Can I be tested only for someone I know?
No. While your motivation maybe to help someone you know, the Register exists and conducts these very expensive tests to help over 1000 patients nationally and worldwide.
back to top - When will I hear from the Registry?
You will only hear from the ABMDR if you have been found to be a match to someone in need of a transplant.
back to top - Can I choose between donating bone marrow or stem cells?
Only the treating transplant physician will determine which transplant will be best for the patient.
back to top - What are the risks for me?
To date, no significant long term side effects to the donor have been noted. When donating bone marrow, your risks are the same as with any procedure involving having an anesthetic, some people may experience nausea or local pain at the puncture site for a couple of days. With stem cell donation, G-CSF is usually well tolerated but may inflict flu-like symptoms during the course of injections, which usually respond to Paracetamol.
back to top - Can I donate if I'm pregnant?
You can definitely join the registry, however if you are found to be a match, you will only be asked to donate several months after giving birth, usually when you finish breast feeding. Don't forget to donate your cord blood!
back to top - Can I donate again?
Yes, although it is unlikely to be a match to more than one patient. Once you have donated you will be retired from the registry for one year and then be asked to be re enrolled.
back to top - Are my details treated confidentially?
Yes. Your personal, medical and tissue type details will not be divulged to anyone outside the registry without your written consent.
back to top - May I contact the patient who receives my stem cells?
You will receive progress reports about the recipient and after a year or two if both parties wish to meet and consent to this, contact can be arranged.
back to top - Do I need to travel if patient is overseas?
No, your stem cells will be couriered safely to where the patient is to be transplanted.
back to top - How do I contact the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry to check or update my contact details?
For privacy issues only you can check or update the information on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Regisrty with your full name and date of birth details.
Sydney 9229 4318 or ncoulits@arcbs.redcross.org.au
Melbourne 9694 0290 or jtemple@arcbs.redcross.org.au
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