There are limitations on who may register. The medical limitations are:
Medical Guidelines for Joining the Registry
When you join the Be The Match RegistrySM, you will complete a health questionnaire to confirm you meet the medical guidelines. The medical guidelines protect your health as a potential donor, as well as the health of transplant patients.
The guidelines below describe many factors that may make a person medically ineligible to join the Be The Match Registry. The guidelines listed here do not include every situation that could prevent a person from donating. If you are identified as a potential match for a patient, you will receive a physical exam to be sure it is safe — for both you and the patient — to donate.
Age
You must be between the ages of 18 and 60 to join the Be The Match Registry. Age guidelines are not meant to discriminate. They are meant to protect the safety of the donor and provide the best possible outcome for the patient. The lower age limit is based on the legal age of consent. A guardian or parent is not able to sign a release or give consent because unrelated bone marrow donation is a voluntary procedure.
The upper age limit is based on donor and patient considerations. There is a small increase in the risk of side effects from anesthesia in older donors.
AIDS/HIV
If you have been diagnosed with HIV (AIDS) you cannot register to become a potential volunteer donor listed on the Be The Match Registry. If you are at significant risk for the HIV/AIDS virus, you may not be allowed to register for a certain period of time. Contact your local donor center or contact us at 1 (800) MARROW2 (1-800-627-7692) to learn more about medical guidelines for persons who are at risk for the HIV/AIDS virus.
More information about HIV/AIDS and how it is transmitted may be found at the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/
Allergies
If you suffer from common allergies to animals, the environment, or medications, etc., you will be allowed to register to donate. Serious or life-threatening allergies to medications or latex will need to be carefully evaluated before you may join the Be The Match Registry as a potential volunteer donor. See Asthma.
Arthritis
In general, if you have mild to moderate osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis, you will be permitted to join the Be The Match Registry. Mild to moderate arthritis is defined as having little impact on daily activities, and is relieved by taking occasional medications. If you have arthritis affecting the spine, your condition will need to be carefully evaluated before you will be allowed to register to become a potential volunteer donor. If you have a severe medical arthritic condition such as rheumatoid, reactive, psoriatic and advanced stages of other types of arthritis, you will not be allowed to register.
Asthma
If you have asthma that is exercise-induced or is well-controlled using an inhaler (including those containing steroids), and have had no attacks requiring oral (pill) or intravenous (IV) steroids or emergency care in the past five years, you are able to register to become a potential volunteer donor. If you have asthma requiring regular/daily use of oral (pill) steroids, you will not be allowed to register.
Autoimmune Diseases
Most diseases which may be defined as auto-immune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, will prevent you from registering to become a potential volunteer donor. However, if you have a condition such as Hashimoto's or Graves' disease, you may be allowed to register as long as the disease has been successfully treated and you are medically stable.
Back, Neck, Hip and/or Spine
Common back problems such as sprains, strains and aches may not interfere with a bone marrow donation. If you have any of the following conditions, you will not be allowed to register:
Chronic back pain requiring ongoing medical treatment (including chiropractic care) and/or daily or frequent prescribed pain medication
Herniated, bulging or slipped disc anywhere along your spine diagnosed in the past 2 years
Single back surgery in the past 2 years
History of a spine fracture, if caused by bone disease
History of a spine fracture in the past 2 years, if caused by injury
Placement of rods or pins for scoliosis
History of a hip or pelvic fracture and/or repair
If you have significant back problems and/or any questions regarding your medical condition, contact your local donor center.
Bleeding Problems
You are not able to register if you have a serious bleeding problem such as hemophilia, Factor V Leiden and have had a blood clot or require anticoagulant medications, aplastic anemia, Von Willbrand’s Disease, or have a history of more than one deep vein thrombosis (blood clot). This also includes idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (also called ITP) — unless you only had childhood (less than 18 years old) episodes.
Blood Pressure
If you have elevated blood pressure (hypertension), you may register if your condition is well-controlled by medication or diet and if there is no associated heart disease. See Heart Disease, if applicable.
Breathing Problems
If you have serious breathing problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, sleep apnea or cystic fibrosis, you are not able to register. See Asthma, if applicable.
Cancer
If you have a history of pre-cancerous cells, you will be able to register to become a potential volunteer donor. You are able to register if you have any of the following:
Cured, local skin cancer (basal cell, squamous cell or melanoma in situ).
Healed in situ cervical cancer.
Healed in situ breast cancer.
Healed in situ bladder cancer.
NOTE: In situ cancer is diagnosed at a very early stage and is specifically called “in situ” or Stage 0.
All other forms of cancer, including non-in situ melanoma, are not acceptable — no matter the length of time since treatment or recovery.
Cold or Flu
Recent infections, such as colds or flu will not prevent you from registering to become a potential volunteer donor.
Depression/Mental Health
If you have a history of depression that is stable and well-controlled, you may register to become a potential volunteer donor. Contact us at 1 (800) MARROW2 (1-800-627-7692) to discuss any other mental health conditions.
Diabetes
If you have diabetes, a careful evaluation of your current health status will be necessary. In general, if your diabetes is well-controlled by either diet or oral medications, you will be allowed to register. If you require insulin or any injected medications to treat diabetes or if you have diabetes-related serious health issues such as kidney, heart or eye disease, you will not be allowed to register. If you have questions regarding your diabetes, contact us at 1 (800) MARROW2 (1-800-627-7692).
Epilepsy
You may register if you have well-controlled epilepsy and have had no seizures in the past year.
Heart Disease
In general, if you have heart disease you cannot become a potential volunteer donor. This includes a past heart attack, any history of angioplasty, bypass surgery, heart valve replacement surgery or pacemakers. However, some heart conditions such as well-controlled irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), or mitral valve prolapse that does not require medication or restrictions, or successful cardiac ablation will not prevent you from registering to become a donor. Your situation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Hepatitis
You will be allowed to join the Be The Match Registry if you have:
Received a vaccine to prevent hepatitis
History of fully-recovered hepatitis A
Close or intimate contact with someone with active hepatitis B or C in the past year
Possible exposure to hepatitis B or C in the past year
History of jaundice due to mononucleosis or cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
If you have the following, you cannot join the registry:
Diagnosed with hepatitis B or C
Been told you had a positive confirmatory test for hepatitis B or C
Been told you are a carrier of hepatitis B or C (also known as a “chronic” infection)
History of hepatitis or yellow jaundice (after age 10) without a known cause
If you have questions regarding hepatitis and registration, contact us at 1 (800) MARROW2 (1-800-627-7692).
More information about hepatitis and how it is transmitted may be found at the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/.
Immunizations
If you have received a common immunization, you may register to become a potential volunteer donor. If you have received an investigational vaccine, however, your situation must be evaluated. Some immunizations (such as smallpox) will require assessment if you are selected as a potential donor.
Kidney Problems
You cannot register if you have serious or chronic kidney problems such as polycystic kidney disease or glomerulonephritis. If you have had a kidney removed due to disease, you cannot register. However, if you donated a kidney to another person and are now fully recovered from that surgery, you are able to register. You are able to register if you have a history of kidney stones.
Liver Disease
If you have a serious liver disease such hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis, or Wilson’s disease, you are not able to register. You are able to register if you have Gilbert’s syndrome. See Hepatitis, if applicable.
Lyme Disease
If you have fully recovered from Lyme disease, you may register to become a potential volunteer donor. If you have chronic Lyme disease, you may not register.
Medications
Treatment with some medications may affect your suitability to register as a potential volunteer donor. Most often it is not the actual drug itself but the condition requiring the medication that would determine your suitability. If you are currently taking medication(s), you may want to contact your local donor center to discuss the medication(s) and underlying condition.
Organ or Tissue Transplant
If you have received human tissues, such as bone (including bone powder for dental procedures), ligaments, tendons, skin and corneas, you may be allowed to register to become a potential volunteer donor, depending on the reason for the procedure.
If you received any of the following types of transplants you may not register:
Human organs such as heart, lung, liver, or kidney
Marrow or blood-forming cells
Dura mater
Xenotransplant (live tissues from animals)
Piercing (Body, Skin, Ear)
You may register to become a potential volunteer donor if you have had ear or body piercing in the past year.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant you may register for the Be The Match Registry. However, you must be temporarily deferred until you are fully recovered from the delivery or c-section. Blood-forming cells cannot be collected at any time during pregnancy.
If you are currently pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, you may want to consider donating your baby's umbilical cord blood after your baby is born. To see if this is an option at your hospital, see Where to Donate Cord Blood.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
If you have or have had a sexually transmitted disease such as herpes, HPV, chlamydia or syphilis you are eligible to register for the Be The Match Registry.
Tattoos
You may register if you received a tattoo in the past year.
Travel
You are allowed to register regardless of where you have traveled. If you are selected as a potential donor, recent travel to areas at risk for such infections such as malaria or mad cow disease will be evaluated.
Tuberculosis
If you have had active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) within the last two years, you may not register. You can register if you have completed treatment for TB, if it has been more than 2 years, and you have a clear chest x-ray. You may also register if you have a history of a positive Mantoux (PPD).
Weight
A formula that measures body fat — called Body Mass Index (BMI) — is used to evaluate weight when determining donor suitability. You may not be allowed to register if your BMI (both underweight and overweight) would present a risk to your safety. See Donor Weight Guidelines for more information regarding upper weight criteria. While we do not have a guideline table listing minimum weight criteria, volunteers who are extremely underweight for their height would need to be carefully evaluated.
For more information, see: http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Med_Guidelines_Join/index.html
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