Healthy cells used in a bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also called a BMT) can be from your own blood-forming cells (autologous) or those of a marrow donor or cord blood unit (allogeneic).
If your doctor determines that you need an allogeneic transplant, he or she will look for a donor in your family that matches your HLA tissue type. HLA stands for human leukocyte antigen, a marker your immune system uses to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do not.
HLA tissue types are inherited, so your best chance of finding a match is with a brother or sister. However, 70% of patients do not have a suitable donor in their family. If you do not have a donor in your family, your doctor can search for a marrow donor or cord blood unit.
The Registry of the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (Program) lists potential donors who have agreed to donate their marrow and already donated cord blood units. As a contractor for the Program, the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) manages the Registry.
It can take a few weeks to a few months or more to find a marrow donor or cord blood unit. However, sometimes a matching marrow donor or cord blood unit cannot be found. If your doctor cannot find a suitable match for you, he or she will look at other treatment options.
Sometimes, family and friends want to help by finding more donors. The NMDP can help with donor recruitment efforts.
