What is bone marrow?

Bone marrow is a soft tissue found in the centre of certain bones in your body. It is this bone marrow which creates stem cells. Stem cells are the 'building blocks', which can grow into any of the other normal blood cells such as red cells, which carry oxygen, white cells, which fight infection, or platelets which stop bleeding.

Why do we need bone marrow/stem cell donors?

There are a number of diseases that prevent a patient's bone marrow from working properly. These include leukaemia and aplastic anaemia as well as other diseases of the immune system. Although chemotherapy will successfully treat some of these patients, for many the only possibility of a cure is to have a stem cell transplant from a healthy donor. In about 30% of cases, a matched donor can be found from within the patient's family, such as a brother or sister.


What is the British Bone Marrow Registry?


The BBMR holds details of stem cell donors and cord blood donations from England, Scotland, North Wales and Northern Ireland. It is responsible for recruiting, testing and registering blood donors who volunteer to become stem cell donors. It is also part of an international network, performing searches around the world to find suitable stem cell donors.

How can I join the register?

You need to be aged 17-40 years old (registered before your 41st birthday), male and be a blood donor. We also accept females, within the same age range, from Black, Asian, minority ethnicities and mixed ethnicity backgrounds. These criteria reflect the donors that we are short of on the BBMR. All of our donors are made available for search on the Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry. For those who wish to become a stem cell donor and do not meet our recruitment criteria, opportunities exist to join one of our other partners who make up the Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry; either Anthony Nolan or Delete Blood Cancer UK. Donors in Wales may consider the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

You can join when you next give blood, or at the same time as your first donation. We will check that there is no medical reason preventing you from being both a blood donor and a stem cell donor. At the time of your blood donation we will take an extra blood sample, so that we can identify your tissue type for the registry from your DNA - the genetic material our bodies are made up from. Please inform the staff at the blood donation session that you wish to join the BBMR before your blood donation is taken.

What happens next?


What happens if I am a match for a patient?


How do I donate?




Where will I make the donation?


After your donation


What are the risks?


What information will I receive about the patient?

The identity and location of both the donor and the patient must remain confidential. This is to comply with 'EU Tissue and Cells Directive (EUTCD)'. All you will know is that you are performing a very valuable and life saving procedure for a person who is in need.

Stem Cell Registries


How can I get more information?

If you have any further questions or general enquiries, please contact the National Blood Service Donor Helpline on 0300 123 23 23.

For further enquiries or questions

Call 0300 123 23 23

Become a blood donor

To find out more click here
