Bone Marrow Donor registries are typically non-profit organizations that assist patients and families in their search for bone marrow donors. They have knowledgable staff, a social network and they also have a computer network that allows them to search all the databases for likely matches. All donor information is kept completely confidential.
Factors to consider before joining
Patients searching the ABMDR for an unrelated donor depend on potential volunteer donors to be accessible and willing to donate if identified as a match. Therefore, please consider your decision carefully.
Making a decision
You may want to discuss your decision
with your family or others close to you before you join. It may be important
to you to have their support if you are ever contacted as a match for
a patient who needs a transplant. As a volunteer, you are never under
any legal obligation to donate. Individual decisions are always respected.
However, because a late decision not to donate can be life-threatening
to a patient, please think seriously about your commitment before deciding
to join the Registry.
Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
International Donor Registries