National Marrow Donor Program


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The Donor Selection & Transplant Process

If your doctor recommends a bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also called a BMT), learning about the donor selection and transplant process can help you make informed choices about your health care.

Searching for an unrelated donor or cord blood unit

If you need an allogeneic transplant (which uses donated cells from a family member, unrelated donor or cord blood unit), and do not have a suitable donor in your family, your transplant center can search the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry for an unrelated donor or cord blood unit for you.

The steps of a transplant

The transplant process begins with your pre-transplant medical evaluation and treatment before you receive your donated cells. After you receive your transplant, the early months of recovery are also an important part of the process.
  1. Evaluating Your Health Before Transplant
  2. Getting a Central Line and Entering the Hospital
  3. The Preparative Regimen
  4. Receiving Your New Cells
  5. Waiting for Engraftment: Days 0-30
  6. Early Recovery: Days 30-100


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Page last updated: June 2005

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