Thousands of patients hope for a bone marrow donor who can make their life-saving transplant possible. They depend on people like you. You have the power to save a life.  Take the first step today.

Creating connections. Saving lives.
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and our Be The Match FoundationSM are nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating an opportunity for all patients to receive the bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant they need, when they need it.

Our mission
Every year, thousands of people of all ages are diagnosed with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases. Many of them will die unless they get a bone marrow or cord blood transplant from a matching donor. Seventy percent of people do not have a donor in their family and depend on our Be The Match RegistrySM to find a match to save their life.
About the National Marrow Donor Program

New name, same registry
Be The Match Registry is the new name for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry. If you joined the NMDP Registry, either in person or online, you are a member of the Be The Match Registry and do not need to join again. Learn more about Be The Match.

Understanding Your Commitment
When you join the Be The Match RegistrySM, you are taking the first step to save a life. You are also making a commitment to be ready to take the next step if a patient needs you.

Be sure you understand what to expect when you join the registry so you feel comfortable with your decision.

Consider Your Decision
Discuss your decision with your family or friends when you join the registry. You may need their support if you are ever contacted as a match.

If you match a patient, your commitment to donate is very important, but you have the right to change your mind. However, a late decision to not donate can be life-threatening to a patient. Please think seriously about your commitment before joining the registry.

Myths & Facts about Bone Marrow Donation

Learn the facts about bone marrow donation to help you make an informed decision about joining the Be The Match RegistrySM.

MYTH:
Bone marrow donation is painful.

FACT:
General or regional anesthesia is always used for this procedure. Donors feel no needle injections and no pain during the marrow donation process. Afterwards, most donors feel some pain in the lower back for a few days or longer.

 
MYTH:
All bone marrow donations involve surgery.

FACT:
There are two ways to donate. The majority of donations do not involve surgery. The patient's doctor most commonly requests a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, which is non-surgical and outpatient. If the patient's doctor requests marrow, marrow donation is a surgical procedure, usually outpatient.

 
MYTH:
Pieces of bone are removed from the donor.

FACT:
Pieces of bone are not removed from the donor.

In marrow donation, only the liquid marrow found inside the bones is collected. In a PBSC donation, cells are collected from the bloodstream in a process similar to donating plasma. For more details, see the steps of donation.

 
MYTH:
Donating bone marrow is dangerous and weakens the donor.

FACT:
Though no medical procedure is without risk, there are rarely any long-term effects from donating. Only five percent or less of a donor's marrow is needed to save a life. After donation, the body replaces the donated marrow within four to six weeks.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which operates the Be The Match RegistrySM, screens all donors carefully before they donate to ensure they are healthy and the procedure is safe for them. We also educate donors, answer questions every step of the way, and follow up with donors after donation.

 
MYTH:
Bone marrow donation involves a lengthy recovery process.

FACT:
PBSC donors take the drug filgrastim for five days leading up to donation and may have symptoms such as headache, bone or muscle pain, nausea, insomnia or fatigue during this time. These symptoms nearly always disappear one or two days after donating, and the donor is back to normal.

Marrow donors can expect to feel fatigue, some soreness or pressure in their lower back and perhaps some discomfort walking. Marrow donors can expect to be back to work, school and other activities within one to seven days. The average time for all symptoms to disappear is 21 days.
 
MYTH:
Donors have to pay for the donation procedure.

FACT:
Donors never pay for donating and are never paid to donate. All medical costs are paid by the patient's medical insurance or by the patient, sometimes with assistance from the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). The NMDP, which operates the Be The Match Registry, reimburses donors for travel costs, and may reimburse other costs on a case-by-case basis.

Although a donor never pays to donate, many people do pay the tissue-typing cost when they join the registry.

FAQs About Joining the Registry
Medical Guidelines for Joining the Registry
Join at a BAHBAD Drive Location
Join Our BAHBAD Current Online Drive
Join In Person around the Nation
Now That You Have Joined
When You Are Contacted As A Possible Match