Every year, many Malaysians are diagnosed with various blood disorders, such as leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, or thalassemia. Stem cell treatment replaces diseased cells in a patient, from a healthy matched donor. If you are a Malaysian aged between 18 and 50 years, healthy and free of chronic disease, you are eligible to register, donate your stem cells, and potentially save a life.
Here in Sarawak, we enjoy diversity among races, and this makes the probability of finding a matching donor for a patient very low. Currently, registered donors of Sarawakian ethnicity make up only 1% of the number of existing donors.
So we’re asking you, Malaysian citizens especially Sarawakians, to pledge yourselves as potential blood stem cell donors, so there’s a better chance of finding a compatible donor for patients from Sarawak. You can find our more by contacting MSCR at mscr@imr.gov.my or phone: 03-26162790/ 2780. If you want to be notified when we have a Stem Cell Donor drive near you, sign up here
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Stem Cell Donation Procedure
Step 1
REGISTER as a donor
Fill up the consent form
Sampling using blood sample – 3ml blood extracted
Step 2
SAMPLE GOES BACK TO MSCR
Sample processing
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Typing Test Donor’s HLA Typing will be stored in database
Step 3
IDENTIFICATION
A request for Match Unrelated Donor (MUD) is made by a doctor for a patient. If a match with donor is found in the database, proceed with 2nd confirmation HLA Typing
STEP 4
UPON CONFIRMATION
If it is confirmed that the HLA matches with the patient & donor agrees to donate stem cell, he/she will undergo further briefing & counselling as well as physical examination. If the donor is not living in Kuala Lumpur, the donor will fly out to Kuala Lumpur and all expenses including air fares, meal allowance & hotel borne by MSCR.
When the donor arrives at the hospital (either Hospital Ampang or Hospital Kuala Lumpur), the donor will be given GSCF hormone via injection for three (3) days before stem cell collection.
A maximum total of 5 days is required to complete the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to stem cell collections, the matched donor will be given a stimulant called GSCF to boost the bone marrow to produce a large number of stem cells in the body. Hence, most donors will experience some temporary effects such as pain in the joints. During the collection process, the donor may experience dizziness & lightheadedness due to the large amount of blood flowing in and out of the body for a few hours. Any other reactions/effects will be monitored and treated by healthcare professionals at the collection centres.
The collection process using the apheresis method will take about 4-6 hours, depending on the amount of the stem cell needed by the patient.
Since being a part of registry is a voluntary act, no cost will be borne by the donor. All the cost needed on pre and during the collections will be borne by MOH & MAKNA, such as flight, accommodation, and transport needed during the process.
It is not recommended to refuse to donate once registered, because the patient might only have one match from the registry pool. Since this is a voluntary act, yes, a donor can change his/her mind to become a donor. Hence, if a donor wants to change his/her mind to donate, it is best to refuse before the second confirmation process takes place.
At this moment, one can only register as a walk in donor at our Stem Cell Donor drives, at MSCR’s office at Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, or at any other MSCR events/campaigns held around Malaysia.
