LIFESTYLE NEWS - Despite access to nearly 43 million stem cell donors through the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA), tracing or contacting eligible matched donors remains a significant barrier to transplant globally.
According to a recent global trend report by the WMDA, 50% of registered donors had to be removed from the database in 2023, because they could not be traced or contacted.
Locally, the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) says this trend is deeply concerning as the odds of finding a suitably matched donor are already just 1 in 100 000.
For patients from certain ethnic or mixed backgrounds, those odds rise even further due to genetic diversity, making every registered donor critical. Yet, in South Africa, 11% of donors could not be contacted or traced – a setback that can mean the difference between a patient receiving a life-saving transplant or not.
As tissue typing or Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) is extremely complex, finding the correct match depends on having a very large and diverse register of donors.
Deputy Director for the SABMR, Jane Ward says while she understands that life is busy and people may simply forget to update their details, once someone signs up as a stem cell donor, a certain degree of commitment is required, as lives quite literally hang in the balance.
“We can only get patients to the transplant stage if we find a suitably matched donor, and if they aren’t available, chances are that another suitably matched donor may not be found. A stem cell transplant is often the last and only resort for patients with life-threatening blood disorders. That’s why it is vital that donors take responsibility for keeping their contact details up to date, so that when the call comes, they are ready to give someone the gift of a second chance at life.”
Other reasons for why donors are removed from the SABMR’s database, include:
- Medical reasons
- Immigration
- Age
- Personal withdrawal
To ensure that patients are presented with the best possible match, potential stem cell donors undergo in-depth medical testing to ensure that there are no medical risks involved for the patient. Should they develop a medical condition after signing up, they are deleted from the database.
Similarly, once a donor reaches the age of 61, they are retired from the database as patients have better outcomes with stem cells donated by younger donors.
Ward says a donor can withdraw from the process at any stage before donating.
“Donors are completely free to change their mind at any time, up to the moment they are asked to donate. Most donors are delighted to hear that they have been chosen to donate and potentially save a life.
However, we have noticed a slight upward trend, due to donors no longer being committed or discouraged by family who do not fully understand what a stem cell donation entails. We’d like to appeal to those who take the decision to become a donor, to consider the life-long impact they could make.
The SABMR will be embarking on a campaign to strengthen donor retention which will include:
- Regularly engaging donors to stress the importance of stem cell donation through education and awareness.
- Conducting annual anniversary surveys with registered donors to establish if they are still committed.
- Post-donor drive recommitment questionnaires to newly recruited/potential donors.
Ward emphasises that each committed donor increases the likelihood of finding a suitable match and improving a patients’ chances. She also calls on younger donors to step up and join the registry.
“We recognise that our database is over 30 years old, which is why we place strong emphasis on the need for younger donors. We’ve seen the impact first-hand of what a successful transplant means for patients and their families who otherwise would not have had the gift of a second chance at life. Therefore, we urge donors to notify us if their contact details have changed, as outdated information severely impacts a patient’s chances of finding a match and ultimately their chance of survival.
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