Is It Possible to be a Stem Cell Donor for the Second Time: A Single-Center Report of 12 Consecutive Procedures

The use of unrelated donors as a source of stem cells for patients with blood disorders continues to increase. Approximately 5% to 7% of unrelated stem cell donors are asked to donate stem cells a subsequent time to the same or a different patient. We investigated donors who accepted to be a donor for the second time between 2015 and 2021; donors were evaluated in terms of procedure-related complications, product quality, and donor follow-up in a JACIEaccredited (Joint Accreditation Committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapy and European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation).

Stem cell collections were performed in accordance with relevant standard operating procedures from healthy volunteer donors. Data on sequence of peripheral blood stem cell, bone marrow, and donor lymphocyte collection procedures; presence of complications during procedures; time between 2 donations; need for granulocyte colonystimulating factor again; and first and second donation types were noted. Data on donor and stem cell products were determined using the hospital information management system.

Our study included 12 donors (9 men and 3 women) who donated a second time within the specified date range. In the evaluation of the second donation types, 7 were lymphocyte collection donations, 4 were peripheral blood stem cell donations, and 1 was a bone marrow stem cell donation. In shortterm and long-term follow-ups, there were no complications among the donors. In the second donations, targeted product values were reached.

Although it is safe to have a second donation from a donor for the same patient, collection centers may collect more products than requested from eligible donors.