Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Testing fee reduced for potential bone marrow donors

The bone marrow testing fee has been reduced from $45 to $22.50 through May 31 because of the availability of matching funds, United Blood Services of Las Vegas said.

Appointments for the tax-deductable test, used to locate and register potential donors, can be made for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at the blood services offices at 6930 W. Charleston Blvd.

National recognition of the need for bone marrow donors was heightened by the recent death of Michelle Carew, daughter of baseball hall-of-famer Rod Carew, to cancer. News of her valiant struggle inspired more than 70,000 people to contact the National Marrow Donor Program for testing, but a match was not found.

The 10-year-old nationwide organization has put up the matching funds, which greatly reduce the cost of testing to become a donor.

The organization was created to provide marrow transplants from unrelated donors to those suffering from leukemia, lymphomas and other life-threatening diseases.

Marrow is the blood-like liquid found in bone cavities that produces cells. In critically ill people, marrow stops producing various cells, requiring transplants.

In addition to the reduced costs, fees for minorities have been waived because the NMPD has a critical need for minority donors. Currently, just 6 percent of the registry's 2 million-plus donors are minorities.

Potential donors must be 18 to 60 years of age and generally in good health. Also, donors cannot have had a history of heart disease, heart attacks, cancer, asthma or chronic back or hip problems.

Once tissue-typed as a potential marrow donor, an individual does not need to be typed again, blood services officials said, noting that the patient, not the donor, pays for all medical expenses related to donations and transplants.

Donors give marrow through the hip while under a general or local anesthesia. An overnight hospital stay may be required.

For an appointment to be tested, contact Heidi Morrisett at United Blood Services, 228-2859.

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