Finding a Donor
Your medical team will look for a donor whose human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type is closely matched with you. An HLA typing test is done through a blood test. It examines proteins called antigens on the surface of white blood cells. Everyone inherits a unique set of these antigens from each parent, sort of like a cellular fingerprint. HLA proteins are markers that help your immune system distinguish 
"self" (your cells and tissues) from "non-self" (someone else’s cells and tissues). Your body can reject cells with different HLA types.

We do HLA testing on blood samples from you, your siblings, and in some cases, your parents, children, or other relatives. The results will determine whether a relative can be your donor. If not, bone marrow registries or cord blood banks can be checked for a suitable match. Searching www.bethematch.org or cord blood registries takes time. So it should be done as soon as possible after we know that you have no related donor match.

Once a possible donor is found, this person will have a medical examination to make sure he or she is healthy. He or she will also give full consent for the procedure. The evaluation will be done before you begin chemotherapy. If cord blood is being used for your transplant, it is sent to the transplant facility before you start chemotherapy.

The Donation Process
Before you are admitted to the hospital, your donor will have a thorough medical evaluation. The evaluation takes about half a day. It includes:

• A physical exam
• Blood tests
• A urine test
• A chest X-ray
• An electrocardiogram (for adults)

The purpose of the donor evaluation is to learn whether it is safe for the donor to give marrow or blood stem cells. It also shows whether the donor’s cells are safe to give to you. During this appointment, a nurse or other staff person will explain the donation procedure in detail. Donors may wish to bring a friend or family member to take notes, as it is a good time to ask questions. It is important for donors to understand that they are not responsible for the outcome of the transplant. They can’t do anything to make their stem cells "better" or guarantee a good outcome for the patient.