Bone Marrow Donation

Preparation for the donation

The preparation period for the donation can be as short as two weeks in urgent cases, or it can be spread over several months. It usually lasts from five to seven weeks and includes an interview with the counsellor we will assign you, an examination at the hospital centre where the donation will be made and a meeting with the medical team that will eventually proceed with the collection.

Bone marrow collection

Bone marrow is removed from the hip bones with special sterile needles in the operating room under general or epidural anesthesia. This bone marrow will be transfused into the patient within 24 to 36 hours. The bone marrow transfusion procedure is identical to the procedure used in blood transfusion.

For an adult patient, the usual amount required is about one litre of bone marrow (or 3 to 5% of the total volume of bone marrow in the body), which is twice the volume collected during a whole blood donation.

What are the risks associated with donating bone marrow?

No surgery or anesthetic is risk-free. The doctor who will be collecting your bone marrow will explain these risks and the specific risks of bone marrow donation to you. Donating bone marrow usually involves a 24-hour stay in hospital. The pain caused by the procedure is mild, and complications are rare. Donating bone marrow does not compromise your health in any way, because the marrow removed is replaced naturally in just three to four weeks.Guide for the potential donor (280 KB)