FAQs

Stem cells are specialised cells found in bone marrow, the soft tissue inside your bones. They have the unique ability to develop into different types of blood cells, making them crucial for the body’s healing processes.

Blood stem cell transplants are a critical, potentially life-saving treatment for patients with blood cancers and disorders, such as leukaemia and lymphoma. The procedure replaces malfunctioning stem cells with healthy ones from a donor, directly addressing the underlying causes of these illnesses. For many patients, a stem cell transplant represents their last hope for a cure and offers the best chance for long-term survival.

These transplants are essential not only for restoring healthy blood cell production but also for strengthening the immune system, enabling patients to better fight infections and recover from their conditions. Each year, thousands of Australians are diagnosed with blood cancers and disorders, and many rely on stem cell transplants to survive.

If you’re between 18 and 35, you can register to become a donor, and you’ll stay on the registry until the age of 60. 

You need to hold a valid Medicare card and be willing to donate anonymously to any patient in the world. However, our donations are always collected in Australia.

There are some other general requirements and a few medical conditions that would exclude you from becoming a donor.

Exclusion Criteria Includes:

• Thalassaemia major, sickle cell disease, Fanconi anaemia or haemophilia
• Organ or bone marrow transplant
• Stroke or heart attack
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or HTLV (human T-cell lymphotropic virus)
• Any past history of cancer, with the exception of two minor skin cancers – basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Pre-cancerous conditions like carcinoma in situ of the cervix are acceptable.
• Any history of severe autoimmune disease, including:
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
    
  • Scleroderma
  • Sarcoidosis
    
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
    
  • Immune thrombocytopaenic purpura

• Minor autoimmune diseases may be acceptable, including:
  • Psoriasis
  • Vitiligo
  • Alopecia areata
  • Coeliac disease
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, if thyroid function is stable on replacement medication
  • Grave’s thyroiditis, if thyroid function is stable after treatment
  • Pernicious anaemia, if successfully treated
  • Sjoegren’s syndrome, in the absence of serious auto-immune diseases

If you have any questions about these criteria contact us at info@stemcelldonors.org.au

Additional information:
Donors who have resided in the UK, travelled overseas, gotten a tattoo, engaged in intravenous drug use or had male-to-male sex can join the registry and become a donor through our cheek swab program.

Many people are surprised to learn that donating stem cells or bone marrow is much less painful than they are led to believe (thanks, Grey’s Anatomy). In fact, about 90% of donors provide stem cells through a process called peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection. This is similar to donating plasma and takes place in a comfortable chair (with snacks!). Blood is drawn from one arm, stem cells are filtered out, and the rest of the blood is returned to you through the other arm. The whole process usually takes about 4 to 6 hours, but you can relax and enjoy the experience.

For the remaining 10% who are asked to donate bone marrow, the procedure is also quite manageable thanks to modern advancements. You’ll be under general anaesthesia, so you won’t feel anything while liquid marrow is gently extracted from your hip bone. This procedure typically lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Depending on when it’s done, you might need a short overnight stay in the hospital, or you could head home the same day.

So, while the thought of donating can seem daunting, most donors say the experience is well worth it, and they would do it again in a heartbeat!

If you are donating peripheral blood stem cells, you will need to complete a short course of G-CSF injections prior to donating. 

In the short term, G-CSF causes a temporary increase in your bone marrow’s production of white blood cells. It also acts as a cytokine (a chemical that our immune system uses to fight infection) which can cause side effects like aching and fatigue – symptoms typical of your immune system’s response to an infection.

In the long term, the closely monitored experience of thousands of volunteer donors worldwide has shown us that marrow stem cell donation is safe and has no effects on long-term health.

If you are donating bone marrow, there is no preparation or medication required before the procedure. Most commonly, you may feel sore and stiff in your lower back for a couple of days after the procedure. Any pain can be managed with paracetamol. There might also be some bruising to the back of your hips and some donors can feel tired after the procedure, so the best thing you can do is rest. 

Most donors are back to their regular routines after a week and say that they’d donate again in a heartbeat. 

Want to read firsthand accounts from real donors? Check out our Donation stories.

The main cost to you as a donor will be your time. This includes time to enrol, provide additional blood samples if requested and time to be assessed by the doctor and actually donate your stem cells if you are matched to a patient in need.

We’ll support you throughout the entire donation process, including providing resources to help explain to your employer why you may need time off, answering any questions you may have along the way, and we’ll cover travel, medical and hospital expenses related to your donation. This includes incidental expenses and any accommodation and transport costs that may arise if you need to travel.

Note that, as a volunteer, you will not receive any form of payment for donating as this is against the Human Tissue Act.

The focus on young men as donors isn’t about quality; it’s more about quantity and some practical considerations. Generally, men tend to be larger, which means they can provide a higher volume of stem cells. This can be crucial for patients who need a transplant.

Additionally, medical professionals often prefer male donors to minimise potential logistical issues, such as those that can arise with pregnant or breastfeeding women. Pregnant women can develop antibodies that may trigger Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) in recipients, a serious condition that can impact a patient’s recovery and chances of survival.

However, we want to emphasise that young, healthy women are also excellent candidates for donation! Every donor has the potential to make a life-changing impact, and we value all who step forward to help.

We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who wants to make a difference by joining our registry. When it comes to donating stem cells, younger donors are preferred because they lead to better outcomes for patients. This focus on young donors helps us ensure that the patients’ transplants have the best chance of success.

While we do keep donors on the registry until their 60th birthday in case they become the perfect match for someone in need, we have to be mindful of our limited resources. Our priority is to engage those who can provide the greatest potential for successful transplants, which is why we encourage those aged between 18 and 35 years old to register.

If you’re outside this age range, please know that your passion and willingness to help are valued, and we appreciate your support in spreading the word about the importance of donating stem cells. See our How to Help section for ways you can help our mission.

When you join the registry, we collect a sample from you through a cheek swab, which you can easily order online, or via a blood draw at your next Lifeblood appointment. This testing is crucial as it helps us identify potential matches between you and patients in need of a stem cell transplant.

The sample allows us to determine your tissue type, blood type, and whether you’ve been exposed to cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common virus that can pose complications for transplant recipients.

We specifically look at your human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers, which are proteins present on most of your body’s cells. Your immune system uses these markers to recognise which cells belong in your body and which do not. A closer match between your HLA markers and those of a patient can significantly improve the chances of a successful transplant.

If you have been tissue typed in the past for a family member and wish to volunteer to donate to an unrelated patient that’s great! Send us an email at info@stemcelldonors.org.au and we can walk you through the process.

We understand that you may want to help a loved one who is unwell, and it’s natural to want to make a difference in their situation. However, when you register as a donor, you’re committing to help anyone in need of a stem cell transplant.

Unless you share the same parents, the chances of being a match for your loved one are very slim. Instead, by joining the registry, you have the opportunity to assist someone else who may be facing a similar situation to what your loved one is experiencing.

Your decision to register means you could potentially save the life of someone you’ve never met—someone who, like your loved one, is in need of support. While it might not be for your friend or relative, your willingness to help can make a significant difference in the lives of others in need.

When you register with us, you’re not just joining the Australian registry of stem cell donors; you’re becoming part of a global community. There are 53 countries with their own national registries, and we work together to connect these networks, giving patients access to a much larger pool of potential donors.

This international collaboration enhances the chances for patients in Australia and around the world to find a match. By being a registered donor, you’re part of a global community effort to help those in need, ensuring that someone, anywhere, can find the life-saving match they’re looking for.

For a complete list of donor countries, visit www.wmda.info.

We recognise the importance of respecting your privacy and protecting the confidentiality of you and your family’s personal and health information. We collect this information to ensure safe matching of potential donors and to maintain the quality of the registry database. We work closely with a network of health professionals and registries in other countries. We do not provide information that would identify you to persons outside our registry, except to the health professionals directly involved in your care.

If you are identified as a potential match your name will never be shared with the patient or their treating team. The information provided to other registries and treating doctors is solely to enable them to confirm your suitability as a match. If the match is confirmed and you agree to donate, only the hospital and health professionals involved in the collection process will know your identity. Our full privacy policy can be viewed here.

Yes! Send us an email at info@stemcelldonors.org.au and we can walk you through the process. You will be asked to complete a donor enrolment form and provide a tissue typing report from the transferring registry.

The odds of being asked to donate depend on several factors, such as the size of the registry, your age, and your ethnicity. In Australia, we currently have around 160,000 registered donors, which gives each donor roughly a 1 in 1,500 chance of being called upon.

Younger male donors aged 18-35 have a much higher likelihood of being matched and asked to donate. It’s also important to note that our current donors do not reflect the multicultural makeup of Australia. This means that individuals from diverse backgrounds may have a higher chance of being matched with a patient in need.

While the odds might not seem extremely high, they are certainly better than winning the lottery! Every donor makes a difference, and you could be the one to help save a life.

If you match a patient, you will be contacted to confirm that you are healthy and still willing and available to donate. A blood sample will be taken to confirm the match. 

Before donating, an independent specialist will assess you medically, explain the process thoroughly and answer any questions that you may have. Your health and well-being before and after donation are equally important.

Find out more about the donation process.

We understand that life can be unpredictable, and circumstances may change. If you need to decline a donation request due to health issues, family obligations, or any reservations, that’s perfectly okay. You can also remove yourself from the registry at any time or make yourself temporarily unavailable if you have a busy period ahead, are going on holiday, or are being deployed overseas—just let us know!

However, if you are matched with a patient, it’s important to understand that there’s a point of no return for them. About a week before their transplant, the patient undergoes chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to destroy their diseased bone marrow. This treatment can be life-threatening without a healthy donor’s cells to transfuse.

We’re here to support you every step of the way and will ensure you’re clear on the process and when that point of no return occurs. Your commitment has the power to save a life, and we appreciate your willingness to be a part of this journey.

You’ll always have the freedom to decline to donate, and your decision will remain confidential. We understand that everyone’s situation is different, and there’s no judgement here.

However, it’s important to know that when you’re matched with a patient, there is a point of no return. We’re here to support you through this process, and open communication is key to navigating these moments.

If you’ve signed up and realise you’re not ready to commit, that’s perfectly fine! You can either contact us to be made temporarily unavailable or to remove yourself from the registry entirely. Just reach out to us at info@stemcelldonors.org.au, and we’ll assist you.

Donating stem cells used to be a huge deal. But boy, have times changed! 

Here in Australia 90% of blood stem cell donations are like a long blood donation, with the donor fully awake, scrolling through Instagram and eating chocolate bars (yes, plural).

In about 10% of cases, often when the patient is a child, a short surgical procedure will be needed to extract bone marrow from the hip bone. This is done under general anaesthetic so it’s a pain-free procedure. But don’t worry, it sounds much scarier than it really is, and recovery from the procedure is quick with most donors back at work in a day or two. 

Regardless of how the donation is done, the body replenishes the donated stem cells in about 4 to 6 weeks and there are no long-term side effects

The patient’s physician will request the type of donation that’s best for the patient. When you go for your medical assessment the doctor looking after you will let you know if you are better suited to one method or if either are suitable.

Find out more about the donation process.

After your donation we will stop including your information in any new patient searches, to ensure you’re available for the same patient in case they need a second transplant or other matched blood products. If this is the case, you may be asked to do another full donation or just a normal blood donation. After two years you’ll automatically become available again for other patients.

Your health and safety after donation is just as important to us as your health before. For this reason, we will stay in regular contact for a while to make sure you’re okay. You can expect a call within 3 days of collection and weekly until you are fully recovered and have resumed your normal activities. We will also get in touch at three months and then annually for up to 10 years to check your general health. If you have donated peripheral blood stem cells you will also be asked to see your general practitioner (GP) after the donation.

If you have donated in the past and are found to match another patient needing a transplant (e.g. a stranger or a family member) you can donate again. Occasionally you may be asked to donate a second time, for the same patient, if the first transplant did not engraft, or if the patient relapses.

In most cases, yes! However, whether you can communicate depends on the country where the donor or patient resides.

Before two years have passed since the donation, you can send anonymous letters or cards to each other. We’re happy to facilitate this correspondence—just make sure you don’t include any identifying details like names, locations, or birthdays.

After two years, if both you and the patient are interested, you can request to connect directly. If you’ve exchanged a few letters and wish to share personal contact details, you’ll need to sign a consent form to authorise the release of your information.

It’s also important to note that exchanging gifts with monetary value is not permitted, as this goes against human tissue legislation in various countries.