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3.Marrow Donor Registration in Taiwan

4.Marrow Donor Program in Singapore

5.Marrow Donation in China Mainland

6.Marrow Donation FAQ

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1.What is HLA typing?

First,let us talk about the basic concept of blood.

Blood is a mixture of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and a watery liquid called plasma. It also contains other things like hormones, clotting agents, nutrients, and waste products to be flushed out of the body.

Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body, white blood cells help fight infection, and platelets help in clotting.

	White blood Cell
	Red Blood Cell
	Platelets

Second, we focus on the concept of "blood group".

The ABO blood groups are defined by specific inherited antigens which are present on the surface of red blood cells. One person inherits both A and B antigens (group AB), either A or B antigens (group A or B), or neither antigen (group O). Thus he/she develops an antibody in his/her plasma to the ABO antigens that are absent on his/her own red blood cells. e.g. group A person has anti-B antibodies, and group O person has both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.

Also there are many other antigens on the surface of red blood cell. The most important is the Rh factor. A person is defined as either Rh positive or Rh negative depending on the presence of the primary Rh antigen on his/her red blood cell. In contrast to ABO antigens, he/she only develops anti-Rh after exposure to Rh-positive red blood cells through transfusion/pregnancy.

Third we talk about the detail of HLA Typing.

On the surface of our white blood cells lies a set of proteins called Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA). Like a fingerprint, these proteins enable our immune system to distinguish between cells that belong to our body and invading cells. If white blood cells encounter a cell with the wrong “fingerprint”, they attack to destroy it.

Five different HLA proteins on the surface of the white blood cells are believed to play a key role in bone marrow/stem cell transplantation. Each protein is made from a small section of chromosome called an allele. The locations of the alleles on the chromosome are referred to as HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1. If a donor and patient have the same two alleles at HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DR1 and HLA-DQ1, the donor is considered a “perfect” match.

Summary

Now we can see what is HLA Typing and it is totally different from Blood Typing. For Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) patient, the most important/difficult thing is finding a perfectly matching donor within certain time frame base on HLA Typing.

2.How to join the NMDP registry(overview)?

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/join_the_registry.html

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donation FAQ
Q: What is the PBSC donation process?
A: Before the PBSC donation, the donor receives a daily injection of Filgrastim for several days, then peripheral blood stem cells can be collected through the process of apheresis. Donating PBSC is similar to donating platelets at a blood bank. The donor's blood is removed through a sterile needle placed in a vein in one arm and passed through an apheresis machine that separates out the stem cells. The remaining blood, minus the stem cells, is returned to the donor through a sterile needle placed in the other arm.

Q: What is Filgrastim?
A: Filgrastim has been used for more than 10 years to increase white cell production in patients who need white blood cells to fight infections. It is similar to a substance produced naturally in the human body. For several years, it has been given to healthy donors to allow them to donate PBSC for transplants to relatives. The NMDP's plan for the use of Filgrastim in unrelated healthy donors, for the purpose of providing an alternative stem cell source, has been accepted by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA).

Q: What are the risks of PBSC donation?
A: The safety and well-being of donors and recipients is the first concern of the NMDP. A study of approximately 20,000 apheresis donations concluded that the apheresis collection procedure has a very low rate of adverse effects (Transfusion, vol. 38, October 1998).

Q: Where do I go to donate PBSC? How long will it take?
A: The PBSC collection site varies by Donor Center. Some centers perform the collection at the blood center; others use a local hospital. Generally, each collection procedure takes three to five hours.

Q: Does marrow donation hurt?
A: Following the procedure, donors can expect to feel some soreness in the lower back for a few days. Some donors have also reported feeling fatigued and having some difficulty walking.

Q: How many people have donated marrow?
A: More than 11,000 individuals have donated marrow for unrelated patients since the NMDP began operation in 1987. Thousands more, perhaps 50-60,000, have donated for family members.

Q: Are there any risks involved in marrow donation?
A: As with any surgical procedure, there is some risk involved. Serious complications are rare.The NMDP and its centers take all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of the donor. A number of personal health questions are asked when individuals join the Registry to be sure they are in general good health. Before actually becoming a donor, a volunteer will receive a thorough physical examination.