Long-term donor follow-up
All further donor follow-up will be through DKMS. Blood tests are usually no longer necessary.
DKMS follows the general prescribed standards for follow-up of the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA). The wellbeing of the donors has top priority at DKMS; we carry out an even closer follow-up than prescribed by WMDA.
The long-term donor follow-up programme is carried out by our Donor Follow-up Team.
After the first follow-up questionnaire, subsequent questionnaires will be sent out :
- initially six months after your donation, then
- once a year until ten years have passed.
The DKMS team check the questionnaires very carefully and will contact you immediately if there is a need for any extra clarification.
You can also contact our team at any time outside of the follow-up sessions! They will be happy to answer your questions and help you further.
Protecting your health after your donation
Why and how often are my blood values checked?
After a stem cell donation, the body regenerates the stem cells within a few weeks. The follow-up programme includes checking blood values four weeks after donation to make sure that the relevant blood values have returned to normal.
Only if a blood value needs to be rechecked will we ask for additional blood tests.
Can I donate blood in the run up to and after a blood stem cell donation?
If you are identified as a potential blood stem cell match for someone, we ask that you do not donate blood from the time of confirmatory typing. Your confirmatory typing will take place after you are identified as a potential donor.
Following your donation, we ask you not to donate blood until six months after a peripheral blood stem cell donation and 12 months after a bone marrow donation.
How often do I have to have blood samples taken after donation?
Normally, a blood sample only needs to be taken once - four weeks after donation. Only in the case that a blood value needs to be rechecked will we ask for additional blood tests.
Working with DKMS after your donation
Where do I have to send the questionnaire about my current condition and state of health?
Please return your follow-up questionnaire to followup@dkms.org.uk.
I no longer want to participate in the follow-up programme. What do I have to do?
If you no longer wish to participate in the follow-up programme, either
- note this information on your questionnaire, or
- email followup@dkms.org.uk, or
- telephone 020 8747 5660.
