You’re a stem cell donor! Here’s what you need to know

Welcome to Australia's stem cell donor registry

Hi there,

Thanks for signing up as a potential blood stem cell donor through Lifeblood!

Lifeblood is our valued partner, but Stem Cell Donors Australia is a separate organisation that manages the national blood stem cell donor registry. That means we’ll be the ones reaching out if you’re ever identified as a potential match for a patient living with blood cancer or a serious blood disorder.

You’ve donated blood before, so you might be wondering how this is different. Unlike blood donation, where your donation is used right away, stem cell donation only happens if you’re matched to a patient.

Below, we’ll walk you through what happens next. You’ll learn why stem cell transplants save lives, when you might expect to be contacted as a match, and how you can make sure you’re ready if that call comes.

Why stem cell donors are needed

135,000 people are living with blood cancer or a related blood disorder in Australia today.

For many of these patients, a blood stem cell transplant is their best chance of survival.

That’s where you come in. As a registered donor, you’re now part of a global network helping patients find their best possible match.

Want to know more about why stem cell transplants are so important? Click below to learn how they give patients a second chance at life.

Why stem cell transplants matter

So, when will you be called to donate?

We can’t predict when or if you’ll be called. But if that day comes, your availability could mean everything.

Matching is complex, and while only about 1 in 1,500 donors goes on to donate each year, around 1 in 150 people is called as a potential match and asked to complete verification testing.

This vital first step includes an additional blood test to confirm compatibility and ensure you’re the best possible match for the patient. Find out more about what happens if you’re selected as a potential donor at the link below.

What happens if you're a potential match

“To the person I’ve never met who saved my life: words just can’t convey the love and gratitude I have for you.”

Sophie, our Stem Cell Donors Australia ambassador, was the recipient of a blood stem cell transplant. Watch her story and words of gratitude to the donor she has never met.

A donor card will soon be on its way to you

As a new donor, you will be receiving a blood stem cell donor card in the post. We are conscious that not everyone wants to receive one.

If you would prefer to not receive a donor card in the post, please email us as soon as you can with your name to: info@stemcelldonors.org.au

Don't miss a life-saving call: save our contact details

You never know when we might need to reach you, so let’s make sure we’re not playing phone tag!

Turns out there’s a really easy way for you to save all of our contact details straight to your phone. That way, you’ll always recognise a life-saving call or text when it comes through.

Download our contact card

What's next?

We will send you two more informative emails over the next few weeks. You’ll learn more about the donation process and read about the experience of other donors who have donated their blood stem cells, and patients who received a second chance at life after their transplant.

If you’re curious to learn more right now, here are some great places to start: