Workup – clearance to donate
We have asked you to attend a “Workup,” consisting of a physical examination and information session with a medical professional – which we’ll call ‘your workup clinician’. If you’re a blood donor, we have also asked you to pause all blood and plasma donations.
Getting ready
Workup usually occurs at the same specialist collection centre where your donation will happen, so you may be required to travel. Your Donor Support Coordinator will take you through the logistics; we try to arrange your Workup appointment and donation at the collection centre most convenient for you, although sometimes this isn’t possible.
Before your appointment, you might want to have a chat with past donors who are willing to share their experiences. This will give you a good idea of what questions to ask. If you’d like to do this, talk to your Donor Support Coordinator who will make the arrangements.
At Workup, you will have an opportunity to discuss all aspects of the donation and transplant process with your workup clinician. To make you feel comfortable, you can bring someone along with you. The goal is to provide you with detailed information to make an informed decision to proceed, so we encourage you to ask lots of questions.
Although this page gives you some general guidance on how your stem cells are removed, you may have some specific questions you’d like to ask your workup clinician.
There are also practical questions that you could ask, like…
How long does the process take?
How can I go to the toilet or eat while hooked up?
What time do I need to arrive on donation day?
What to expect
You will be asked to complete a health questionnaire and discuss this with your workup clinician.
A physical examination is then performed, which includes the following:
- Chest x-ray
- Taking blood samples for a full blood count (FBC) and infectious disease markers
- ECG
- Assessment of general anaesthetic risk
- Assessment of the veins in your arms and whether they are easily accessible for a PBSC donation
- If you are female, you will also be asked to take a pregnancy test
If at any point you feel unwell prior to attending appointments, please inform your Donor Support Coordinator immediately.
Click the image below to download our factsheet about what to expect at Workup.
Timing is everything
Workup must take place within 30 days of your actual donation to ensure your assessment is current. If the bone marrow or PBSC donation is delayed, you may be required to repeat blood work or complete another health history questionnaire to make sure that nothing has changed.
Based on the clinical needs of the patient, the patient’s medical team will have requested a particular donation method (PBSC or bone marrow). Your workup clinician will review the donation method with you and discuss the potential for bone marrow donation if insufficient cells are collected during PBSC donation.
After the medical team has discussed the procedure with you, answered all of your questions and completed your physical examination, you will be asked to sign consent forms agreeing to donate.
It may take several days before your workup clinician gets all your test results back, formally declares you fit to donate and signs the final donor clearance forms. During this time, your Donor Support Coordinator will keep you informed.
It is essential that you tell the Donor Support Coordinator if you become unwell (eg. if you contract a cold or the flu during this time) so appropriate steps can be taken.
Watch: Workup in detail
If you go on to donate, take a moment to take it in and be present. It is a special experience, and you may never have another chance to do something like it.
Yoni, PBSC donor