To join the Be The Match Registry, all you need is to:
Be between the ages of 18 and 44
Be willing to donate to any patient in need
Meet the health guidelines
FAQs:
What does it take to join the registry? o Some paperwork and a quick cheek swab (no blood, no needles!). The process of joining takes about 10 minutes.
 Note: the cheek swab is only used to add you to the registry. It is not a donation to a patient.
I think I may have already joined the Registry. Do I need to renew my registration at this event? o Nope! Once you’ve joined, you’re on the Registry until your 61 st birthday. Not sure if you’ve already joined? Call 1-800-MARROW-2 to confirm – if you’re not on the Registry, join at this event!
I’m not allowed to donate blood because of my travel history/iron levels/low weight/tattoo. Am I able to join the Be The Match Registry? o Yes, you can join! These factors will not affect your eligibility. Please review the medical guidelines for more information.
What diseases are treated with a bone marrow or stem cell transplant? o A bone marrow or cord blood transplant may be the best treatment option or the only potential for a cure for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and many other diseases. As the science of transplant continues to advance, new diseases are being treated with transplant. Here’s a list of diseases treated with these transplants.
If I match someone, what happens next? o There are many steps that take place prior to the actual donation, including providing blood samples, participating in an information session, as well as a physical exam. If those steps are completed successfully, you will proceed with donating in one of two ways (the choice is made by the recipient’s doctor):
 Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation is the chosen process 80% of the time. This process is very similar to donating platelets or plasma, and usually takes between 3 and 6 hours. Read more here .
 Bone marrow donation is the chosen process 20% of the time. This process is a surgical procedure where doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of the pelvic bone. Donors are given anesthesia and feel no pain during the donation. Read more here .
How likely is it that I will donate to someone? o About 1 in 540 members of the Be The Match Registry in the United States will go on to donate bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) to a patient.
I’m over 44, why can’t I join at this event? o To put it simply, your cells are likely too good at what they do and would likely fight against the receiving patient. People between the ages of 18 and 44 are selected as a donor by physicians over 90% of the time. Because of this, people in that age range are eligible to join the Be The Match Registry at a donor drive for free.
 Note: Those between the ages of 45 and 60 who want to join Be The Match Registry are welcome to do so, but must join online and will be required to make a $100 tax-deductible payment to cover the cost to join.
Other questions? o Check out www.BeTheMatch.org
and/or reach out to Mary McLaughlin ( mmclaug2@nmdp.org
or 571-
319-9371)