Meeting your recipient

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We know donating blood stem cells is a big deal—you’re helping save someone’s life! Once you’ve donated, you may be excited to connect with your recipient or receive updates on their health. While we appreciate your excitement, there are some confidentiality and privacy policies that need to be followed.

In many cases, contacting your recipient is possible after a waiting period of at least one year. However, each case is unique, and waiting periods vary by country—some countries don’t allow direct contact between donors and recipients at any time. These confidentiality policies are in place to protect the privacy of both you and your recipient. 

If you are interested in contacting your recipient, contact your workup specialist for more information.

• If your donation was cryopreserved (Opens in a new tab), the opportunity for you to correspond or potentially meet your recipient would only occur after your blood stem cells were infused  into your recipient, which could be many months or years after your donation.

• Health status updates–Some transplant centers may provide updates during the first year after transplant. These are general health status updates. You will not be able to learn the identity of your recipient.
• Anonymous contact–Most countries allow anonymous contact with your recipient during the first year after transplant. In the U.S. you can send emails, cards and letters electronically. All correspondence must be sent through your donor center.
• All communication must strictly be anonymous for both you and your recipient. You cannot reveal identities or any identifiable information about yourselves. 
• You cannot include:
• Personal names including nicknames or initials for you, your family members, friends, pets or doctors. You can use general words like mom, dad, brother or sister.
• Personal references or organizations including names of hospitals, your employer, sports teams, your registry or military branch, causes, associations or local community groups you’re connected to.
• Your location including your city, state, country, landmarks or regions.
• Photographs
• Personal dates like birthdays or anniversaries

• Requesting direct communication–One year after donation if you’re willing and interested in communicating with your recipient directly, connect with your NMDP workup specialist and complete a consent form.
• Starting one-on-one communication–After both you and your recipient complete a consent form, one-on-one communication may begin. Communication is no longer anonymous and you can connect with each other directly.