Donating bone marrow

Bone marrow is a soft tissue found inside bones; it contains blood stem cells. These blood stem cells can develop into a variety of different blood cells: red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infection and platelets that make blood clot. Those new blood cells are then distributed throughout the body.

For many patients with blood cancers and other disorders, a blood stem cell donation from an unrelated donor is their only chance at a cure. Donation can be done by collecting peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) or bone marrow. Even though bone marrow collections only make up about 10% of total donations to patients, the need for this type of donation can be critical.

Transplant physicians may select bone marrow over PBSC because chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)—a complication that occurs when the donor’s blood stem cells attack healthy cells in the patient—is a lower risk and is less severe than in PBSC transplants. For pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic transplant, survival rates are higher for marrow than PBSC.

Bone marrow is collected during a surgical procedure while you’re under anesthesia. You’ll typically be at the hospital from early in the morning until late afternoon, although some donors are asked to stay overnight. (Don’t worry—NMDP covers all costs related to donation in either case.) Once you’ve donated, a courier will transport your bone marrow to the patient.

Get more information about the process and an overview of the timeline.

Because bone marrow donation is more complex than donating blood, you likely have questions regarding preparation, recovery and the process itself. Staff at your donor center can answer many of your questions. However, you can find answers to frequently asked questions on our site.

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