GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Seeking out younger blood marrow donors, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Be The Match Registry is now only registering younger donors at marrow drives.
The information comes from Michigan Blood, which is a member of the NMDP.
Starting this month, Be The Match is only registering bone marrow transplant donors between the ages of 18-44 in order to grow the registry to meet patients' needs.
Donors between the ages of 18-44 can join the national marrow donor program's Be the Match registry at
here. Kona Dominick, a Stem Cell Program Recruiter says, "Younger donors have healthier cells. They're more active and robust in structure and they link with success rates in patients. So we want those younger donors for those patients so we see a higher success rate, and hopefully cures."
Previously donors had to be between the ages of 18-60. People from ages 45-60 can still register to donate, but must do so online with a $100 tax-deductible payment.
According to Michigan Blood, approximately only 4 of every 10 patients needing a bone marrow transplant find a match.