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Donor Selection

For a transplant to be successful, donor and patient cells have to be compatible. In many cases, compatibility is determined by comparing the results of very detailed and precise tests conducted on blood samples from both the donor and the patient.

Family members, particularly brothers and sisters have more likely source for compatible cells. The chances of a sibling matching a patient is 1:4. If this option is unsuccessful, or the patient has no suitable relatives the next most likely course of action could be the search for an unrelated donor.

Statistics have shown that majority of patients who are eligible for a bone marrow transplant needs access to a compatible unrelated donor.

 

The Bone Marrow Donor Programme helps patients from affiliated transplant centres in Singapore and overseas to locate a suitable match via the donor register.