Many potential donors ask us on our social media accounts or at registration events if they are able to donate, or even if they can join the registry.
Who can join the registry? Anyone 18 to 35 years old who is in general good health can complete a swab kit and the health questionnaire and join the registry at no cost. The processing of these swab kits is paid for by our financial contributors.
Prospective donors 36 to 60 years old are asked to contribute $60 for the cost of processing their swab kit, as they are much less likely to be called as a match.
Close to 90% of donors requested by transplant centers are 18 to 35, due to the higher rate of success for the patients. Studies of transplant results clearly show that hematopoietic stem cells and bone marrow collected from younger donors produce a significantly better outcome for patients. Click here to read our article on this topic.
The health questionnaire you will complete during registration screens for conditions that could be harmful to the donor while donating, or could be harmful to the patient receiving the transplant.
Our primary concern as a donor registry is the health and safety of our donors, so every person who is asked to donate peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow is given a thorough medical exam to ensure their health will not be compromised by the collection process.
If your medical history includes one of the restricted health conditions that increases your risk during the collection process, Gift of Life may not be able to register you. To learn if a particular condition disqualifies you from joining the registry, click here to view the Conditions List. If you are unsure whether a restriction applies to you, completing the health questionnaire as part of the registration process will help determine your ability to join the registry.
Some common questions about registering and donating are answered below. We are always available to answer your questions and there is plenty of information about donating throughout our website. Start here to learn about the blood stem cell and bone marrow donation process and click here to read real stories about our donors’ experiences, including many who have met their recipients.
Yes, you can join the registry and if you are a match for a patient, can donate peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow. Today’s tattoo artists follow safety precautions to prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases like hepatitis and HIV, and every donor receives a thorough medical examination before donating.
Yes! Gift of Life Marrow Registry welcomes you. If you are a match for a patient, you will receive the same medical examination and tests as all other potential donors, and may have the opportunity to save someone’s life. People have often heard that gay men are not allowed to join the registry due to regulations that apply to blood banks. This is false – gay men can join the registry.
Some types of back, neck and hip injuries or a chronic condition such as osteoporosis, for example, may prevent you from donating. We urge everyone to complete the health questionnaire accurately during registration, so eligibility to donate can be determined. Every volunteer must be able to donate either peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow in a safe and comfortable manner. Because bone marrow is collected from the iliac crest of the pelvis while the donor is face down, it is important that every donor have no issues with the back, hip or neck. Gift of Life’s concern is for the donor first, and safety is our highest priority.
Due to the emergence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (aka Prion Disease or Mad Cow Disease) in the United Kingdom in the 1980s, Americans who spent more than three months in England were previously restricted from donating blood. (The restriction was lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic and is not expected to be reinstated.) However, blood donation regulations do not apply to donors of blood stem cells or bone marrow. Potential donors who have spent three or more months in England are welcome to join the registry.
Some tropical diseases or parasitic infections may prevent you from donating. When you join the registry, the first step is a health questionnaire. Some chronic health conditions disqualify individuals from joining the registry, as they pose a hazard either to the donor or to the recipient. If you are unsure complete the health questionnaire to determine your ability to donate.
Transplant recipients may not donate blood stem cells or bone marrow, due to the risk it represents to their own health. Many individuals who were diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives may be disqualified from donating, depending on the type and location of the cancer. For example, a small spot of benign skin cancer that was thoroughly removed may not prevent you from donating. For every donor, final approval to donate is based on a thorough medical examination.
Find a list of the most common medical conditions that prevent someone from donating by clicking here.
Note that this list may change at times due to the emergence of new medical research and information, and updates to federal regulations and guidelines.