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You could be someone’s cure

If you are a potential match for a patient, you will be contacted at any or all steps of the patient search process:

Step 1. During a transplant center’s preliminary search of the Be The Match Registry, when you’re ranked high on a list of potential donors who are a possible match for a patient.

Step 2. When a patient’s doctor requests additional testing of your HLA tissue sample (that you provided when you joined the registry) to determine if you’re a good match, helping to narrow the list of potential donors.

Elsa-240x185px.jpg Watch patients, caregivers and transplant experts explain what the donor search process is like.

Step 3. For confirmatory typing when a patient’s doctor requests a blood sample from you for additional testing to determine if you’re the best donor for the patient. 

All medical expenses related to additional testing and donation will be covered by the patient’s insurance or by Be The Match®. 

At each stage you will be asked to:

  • Confirm your willingness to move forward.
  • Sign a consent form.
  • Complete questions about your health so that donation is safe for you and the patient. See medical guidelines when you match a patient for more information.
  • Confirm your contact information.
  • Discuss any questions you have about additional testing and the donation process.

After any testing stage, it may take up to 60 days for the patient’s doctor to review the results, select a donor and decide to move forward with a transplant. If you have questions about the donation process you can find answers in Donation FAQs or call 1 (800) MARROW-2 to speak to a Be The Match representative.

Aruni and David Aruni and David, marrow donors

 

Matching donors to patients

If we do contact you, you might be one of many potential matches or you may be the only match. It’s critical that you call your contact representative right away. A patient is counting on you. Learn more about how donors are selected.

Resources for potential donors

  • Download or view our donor education (PDF) and potential match (PDF) for the basic facts, steps in the additional testing process, and to learn about both donation procedures.
  • Learn more by viewing In The Know, an interactive course for Be The Match Registry members who may be a potential donor.
Potential match
You have the opportunity to provide hope to someone with a blood cancer like leukemia or lymphoma, or another life-threatening disease. Reach out to your donor contact representative as soon as possible to confirm your willingness to move forward.

We need to hear from you

Call now, if:

  • You’ve received a message that you’re a possible match.
  • You have questions or concerns about proceeding with donation at this time.
  • You are no longer interested in being a donor and would like to be removed from the registry. You can call us to be removed from the registry, or use the online update form. We invite you to check out other ways to be the cure.

If you lost or misplaced the call-back number, call 1 (800) MARROW-2 (1-800-627-7692).