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Confirmatory Typing Summary of Unrelated Donor Testing
The following is a summary of the donor's involvement in the confirmatory typing phase, tests that will be performed, and the amount of time it usually takes to complete each test.
Donor: What We Know
Sometime ago, a person volunteered to join a marrow donor program. They either were already tissue typed for another purpose or they gave permission to have their blood drawn and were tissue typed when they joined. They signed a consent form giving permission for their tissue typing to be listed in a donor registry.
Now, they will be contacted and informed that it appears as though their tissue type is similar to that of a patient who is in need of a stem cell transplant. They will be asked if they are willing to proceed with testing to determine if they are indeed a compatible donor. If they agree to proceed, they will have their blood drawn one day prior to the testing date. Their cells will be sent to our lab using an overnight service.
Donor: What We Do NOT Know
Who this person is, why they joined a donor registry, how much they know about marrow donation, if they are healthy enough to donate, if they want to donate and/or if their family is supportive.
Tests on the Donor
The donor's cells will be tissue typed in our lab. We will confirm their HLA-A, B and DR typing using current molecular methods (DNA typing). From our lab's tests your physicians will learn how similar your tissue type is to that of the potential donor.
The following series of tests known as "infectious disease markers" will be done on the donor's cells:
- HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen)
- STS (serologic test for syphilis)
- Anti-HBc (antibody to hepatitis B core antigen)
- Anti-HCV (antibody to hepatitis C virus)
- Antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (Anti-HIV 1 or Anti-HIV 2)
- Anti-HTLV-1
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Antibody
These tests are most often performed at a lab affiliated with the DONOR CENTER. A copy of the results are sent to our TRANSPLANT CENTER for review. The tests will help your transplant physician determine if the potential donor has been exposed to an infectious disease that could be passed on to you through their stem cells. The tests also give your transplant physician a very general look at the donor's health.
When Will I Know?
Many factors may affect the length of time it will take to determine if a potential donor is, in fact, a compatible donor. The following is a list of tests and the average length of time it takes to receive the results.
| Test |
Results Reported |
| HLA-A, B & DR Typing |
2 Days to 2 Weeks |
| Infectious Disease Markers |
14 - 28 Days |
Once the results are known, your transplant physician will decide if the potential donor is compatible. You will be informed of these results. If a compatible donor is found, your transplant physician will next decide when the donor should be asked to proceed to the donor work-up phase. The donor work-up phase generally lasts four to six weeks.
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