UK registration

There are four organisations (listed below) that you can register with and each has slightly diferent criteria so please make sure you check the organisation’s criteria and the exclusions before registering.

Please note that you only need to register ONCE with ONE of the four organisations and when you are on the system, all data goes onto the same UK register, so fundamentally, it doesn’t really matter how you join the register, just as long as you do!

It is quite rare to be a match so it’s important that you understand the consequences of what is involved so that no one is disappointed in the event you are called to donate. On average, there’s roughly a 1 in 1,200 chance that you’ll actually be asked to donate stem cells once on the register.

Blood stem cell registration is NOT the same as giving blood. Nor are blood donors automatically included on the stem cell register. Therefore if you’re not sure you can call either 0300 123 23 23 (British bone marrow registry) or 0800 37 15 02 (Welsh bone marrow donor registry) and check, before you go to donate blood.

Age Criteria – You must be aged between 17 and 55 years old
Health Criteria – You need to be in general good health (check the exclusion criteria on website)
Weight Criteria – You must weigh over 7st 12 Ibs (50kg) & have a body mass index (BMI) lower than 40

1 -  Visit dkms.org.uk and fill in the online registration form.
2 - You will then be sent a ‘do it yourself’ swab kit with instructions in the post. Once received and completed, post the swabs back to DKMS.

That’s it! Your sample will be analysed and your data will be put on the UK register.

Age Criteria – You must be aged between 16 and 30 years old
Health Criteria – You need to be in general good health (check the exclusion criteria on website)
Weight Criteria – You must weigh over 7st 12 Ibs (50kg) & have a body mass index (BMI) lower than 40.

1 -  Visit anthonynolan.org and fill in the online application form.
2 - Please select ‘Team Margot’ from the drop down box when asked ‘What prompted you to join the register today?’
3 - You will then be sent a ‘do it yourself’ swab kit with instructions in the post. Once received and completed, post the swabs back to Anthony Nolan.

That’s it! Your sample will be analysed and your data will be put on the UK register.

From April 1st 2016, blood donors can only join the NHS British Bone Marrow Registry if they fit in to one of two groups:

1 - Caucasian MALE donors aged 17 to 40;
2 - Black, Asian or minority ethnicity donors of either gender, aged 17 to 40.

Other Criteria – You must also be a blood donor
Health Criteria – You need to be in general good health (check the exclusion criteria on website)
Weight Criteria – You must weigh over 8 stone (51kg)

1 - You must already be a blood donor so when next giving blood, inform the staff at the bood donation session that you wish to join the BBMR before your blood donation is taken.
2 - An extra blood sample will be taken during your blood donation.
3 - That’s it! Your tissue type will be identified and added to the UK Registry. And it’s a ‘one-time’ event.

For further information visit NHS British Bone Marrow Registry or call the National Blood Service Donor Helpline on 0300 123 23 23.

The Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR).

Age – You must be aged between 17 and 30 years old
Other Criteria – You must also be a blood donor
Health Criteria – You need to be in general good health (check the exclusion criteria on website)
Weight Criteria – You must weigh over 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg)

1 - You must already be a blood donor so when next giving blood, inform the staff at the bood donation session that you wish to join the WBMDR before your blood donation is taken.
2 - Alternatively enrol to give blood online here and check the tick box at the bottom of the form to enrol on the bone marrow donation register. An extra blood sample will be taken during your blood donation.
3 -Your tissue type will be identified & added to the UK Registry.

For further information visit the website or call the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry Office on FREEPHONE 0800 25 22 26.

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Contact us

For more information please email us at becurious@givingtohelpothers.org