FAQs

Does it hurt? Is it safe?

Donating is less painful than you probably think.

• While TV shows and movies have wildly exaggerated blood stem cell donation—especially marrow donation—as something scary, the reality is much less dramatic
• Discomfort during recovery varies from person to person. Side effects may include back pain, fatigue, headache or bruising for a few days or weeks.

There are few risks to donating.

• There are rarely any long-term side effects from donating either PBSC or marrow. The donor’s immune system stays strong, and their blood stem cells replenish themselves in 4 to 6 weeks.
• Marrow and PBSC donors should expect to return to work, school and most other activities within 1 to 7 days

While no medical procedure is completely risk-free, every precaution is taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the donor.

How do you protect my DNA as a donor?

We keep your information private and confidential.

• Maintaining your trust is essential to saving lives. That’s why your personal identifying information will not be shared with any companies or government agencies.
• We have rules in place to protect the rights and privacy of both donors and patients
• Information about your genetic type and the stored sample from your cheek swab are identified by a code and stored separately from your personal identifying information

How much time and money are needed to become a donor?

It’s free to save a life.

• There is no cost to join the registry if you are between 18-40 years old
• The donation process is absolutely free to the donor
• Be The Match® covers travel, meals and hotel for donors and one companion
• All medical costs for the donation procedure are covered by the patient’s medical insurance or Be The Match®

It doesn’t take long to save a life.

• Registration is a short process that could one day match you to a patient in need of a life-saving donation
• The entire donation process, including phone calls, physical exams, and the donation typically takes a few hours per week for several weeks, averaging a total of 20-30 hours spread out over a four-to-six-week period
• Be The Match® works with donors to accommodate school, work and family schedules
• Most donors have reported they were surprised at how easy and rewarding it was to help save a life—especially when they consider the patient’s experience

How Does a Blood Stem Cell Transplant Work?

If you’d like to learn the science behind blood stem cell transplants, watch this video from TedEd

Who is Be The Match®?

Be The Match®, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program®  is a non-profit that works every day to save lives through transplant. Over the past 30 years, Be The Match® has managed the most diverse marrow registry in the world and has helped facilitate more than 100,000 blood stem cell transplants. Learn more at BeTheMatch.org®.

How do I Join the Registry?

Joining the Be The Match Registry® is quick and easy. Visit https://join.bethematch.org, answer a few simple questions about your medical history to make sure you meet health guidelines, and you’ll be sent a cheek swab kit via mail to collect a sample. Once you join the registry, it could take several months or many years before you’re matched to a patient and asked to donate. One in 220¹ members will go on to donate. 

¹ Data & Analytics QUER 1869