# I've applied to become a bone marrow donor **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 15, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-applied-to-become-a-bone-marrow-donor/175327 "2003-05-15T01:52:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nichol\_storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nichol\_storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nichol_storm)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-applied-to-become-a-bone-marrow-donor/175327/21 "2003-05-15T20:04:22Z")
**Spiff** – Thanks so much for the important information. I’ve visited the NMDP website and obtained the address of the nearest Donor Center in my area. I’ll be calling them soon to arrange to be placed in their directory. Since my paperwork to the ABMDR has already been sent, can I just give the results of that organization’s tests to the NMDP instead of going through the tests again? .:Nichol:. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-applied-to-become-a-bone-marrow-donor/175327/22 "2003-05-16T13:10:33Z")
**Nichol\_storm** has the best solution, of course … join both registries. The NMDP will accept any tissue typing results, provided that they are at a fairly high level of resolution. “High level of resolution” just means that your tissue typing needs to have been done with one of the more sensitive versions of the tests that are being done nowadays. Results from test done 10 years ago won’t cut it, because the testing technology back then did not detect differences that we now know are important. I don’t know what the ABMDR uses for its tissue typing tests, so the level of sensitivity or resolution of the tests may or may not be acceptable to us. I imagine that the results would be acceptable to us, but I can’t say that with 100% certainty. ---
**Author:** ![thatDDperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@thatDDperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatDDperson)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-applied-to-become-a-bone-marrow-donor/175327/23 "2003-05-16T23:38:51Z")
For those who have registered, your time may come. I matched (fairly closely) for a non-related donation a number of years ago. The extraction process is a LOT better now than it was back then. (I got a site infection that was difficult to get under control, and have a really cute scar.) I was heartened when contacted a few years back to donate to a sibling of my original recipient. …although I can no longer donate because of my own cancer(s), my original recipient was able to donate for his sister!! This was an interesting turn of events. as they had brought child 1 from Europe to Houston, but were able to do child 2 closer to home. Of course, had I been able, I would have donated again. I was also a pheresis donor for years. Got no viable veins because of it, but that’s a whole 'nother problem. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-applied-to-become-a-bone-marrow-donor/175327/24 "2003-05-18T02:19:07Z")
~DDperson … I think you need a hug. You’re in my prayers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-applied-to-become-a-bone-marrow-donor/175327.md?page=1)