Finding a donor
If you are going to have an allogeneic stem cell transplant, you are going to need a donor.
For a stem cell transplant to be successful, the stem cells infused into you must match the genetic makeup of your own cells as closely as possible. To find a match, you and your potential donors need to have blood tests done to see how closely your tissue types match. A person’s tissue type is identified by genetic markers, similar to fingerprints, on the surface of all cells (except red blood cells). These markers are called human leukocyte antigens (HLA).
Once a donor has been found and is considered healthy enough to donate stem cells, the transplant process can begin.
