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Medical Guidelines & Health Criteria

Any individual between the ages of 17 - 49 who meets the donation health guidelines can join the BMDP register. All we need is a small sample (via finger prick) or a buccal swab from the side of your mouth to test and establish your tissue type. Your test results will then go on to the BMDP Register where your tissue types can be compared with those patients in need of transplants. If you are found to be a match for a patient, you’ll be asked to donate your bone marrow.

 

Medical Guidelines

For a full listing of medical guidelines, click here.

 

 

Health Criteria

Age:

You must be between the ages of 17 and 49 to become a potential volunteer donor listed on the BMDP Register. 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 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 BMDP Register. If you are at risk for the HIV/AIDS virus, you may not be allowed to register for a certain period of time.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Cancer

If you have a history of pre-cancerous cells, you will be able to register to become a potential volunteer donor. If you have had cured, local skin cancer (basal cell or squamous cell), you are also able to register. Persons who have healed cervical cancer in situ, breast cancer in situ, or bladder cancer in situ are also able to register. (In situ cancer is diagnosed at a very early stage and is specifically called "in situ.") If you have had any other form of cancer, including melanoma, you are not eligible to become a volunteer donor - no matter the length of time since your treatment or recovery.

 

Diabetes

In general, if you have diabetes Type I, you are unable to join the Register. If you have diabetes Type II and is well-controlled by either diet or oral medications, you will be allowed to register. If you require insulin or if you have diabetes-related serious health issues such as kidney, heart or eye disease, you will not be allowed to register.

 

Heart Disease

In general, if you have heart disease you may not become a potential volunteer donor. This includes a prior 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, 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 BMDP Register if you have:

 

  • a history of fully-recovered documented Hepatitis A
  • received a vaccine to prevent hepatitis

 

You may be asked to wait for one year from the date of exposure if you have had:

 

  • close or intimate contact with someone with active hepatitis
  • possible exposure to hepatitis B or C

 

If you have any of the following, you may not become a volunteer donor:

 

  • history of or risk for hepatitis B or C
  • history of hepatitis or yellow jaundice (after age 10) without a known cause

 

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.

 

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)

 

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant you may register for the Programmeme, however, you must be temporarily deferred until you are fully recovered from the delivery. 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.

 

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 Programmeme.

 

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).