Bone marrow transplantation is the replacement of damaged or completely destroyed bone marrow cells with new cells. Bone marrow transplantation can be used as a life-saving method in diseases such as lymphoma and acute leukemia that are resistant to standard chemotherapy methods.

How is the donor determined in unrelated matched donation?

If the patient does not have a related donor, national and then international databases are searched to find an unrelated donor. Also, a 10-parameter HLA Typing test with high resolution will be performed to check the donor.

Once the patient's HLA type is identified, a preliminary search can be performed. Screening is a computerized search designed to identify potential bone marrow donors who have similar HLA antigens.

If the preliminary search is successful in identifying potential bone marrow donors, the formal search begins. During this process, potential donors are contacted and blood samples are collected for HLA type confirmation and other screening tests. These excess blood tests are more specialized and designed to determine the best possible donor.

Finding an unrelated donor is a complex and time-consuming process. On average, it takes about 3 months to complete the search process. Therefore, it is imperative to start the process of searching for an unrelated donor as soon as possible.

As soon as a sufficient number of stem cells from the donor are collected, these cells will be sent to the Altonizadeh Ajibadem Transplantation Center for the transplantation process.