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The changing activities of a regional marrow donor program
D Stroncek1, R Strand, C Hofkes
1American Red Cross, St. Paul Regional Blood Services, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Transfusion
|January 1, 1994
Summary
The regional marrow donor program expanded its recruitment efforts, leading to a larger donor pool but a decrease in apheresis donors. Increased donor file size was crucial for maintaining donation numbers.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Established in 1982, the regional marrow donor program adapted its activities following the 1987 creation of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).
- The study retrospectively analyzed donor recruitment and marrow collection data through 1991 to understand these programmatic shifts.
Observation:
- The regional program shifted from exclusively apheresis donors to broader recruitment drives, significantly increasing potential donors.
- Despite growth in the total donor pool, the proportion of apheresis donors decreased, while the number of actual marrow donations initially rose then plateaued.
- The NMDP's expansion and focus on HLA-DR compatibility influenced donor selection and reduced the regional program's relative contribution to marrow collections.
Findings:
- Recruitment activities became a more significant component of the regional program's operations.
- A larger potential donor file was necessary to sustain a consistent number of marrow donations.
- Non-apheresis donors proved vital to the marrow donor program's success.
Implications:
- The findings highlight the evolving strategies in marrow donor recruitment and the importance of non-traditional donor sources.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for optimizing national marrow donor registries and ensuring transplant success.
- The study underscores the need for continuous adaptation in donor program management to meet the demands of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.