If you are found to be a potential match to a patient, we will ask you to provide us with some additional information and blood samples. We provide this – anonymously and securely – to the patient’s medical team so they can clinically assess how well you match the patient and the likely success of a donation.
On average, at this stage around 8 likely matches are identified from around the world for each patient – although some patients may only have only 1 match. So if you get this call from us, you should know that there is a strong possibility you will be asked to donate and we will discuss with you any questions or concerns you may have about proceeding.
As a volunteer donor you have the right to withdraw at any time; and while withdrawing at this stage does have implications for the patient, withdrawal at a later stage can create life-threatening consequences for them. So it’s really important that you think carefully before joining the registry – and if you decide that this isn’t for you, please don’t wait for this call to tell us, go to the update donor details page and let us know.
This stage can take as long as 3 months to complete, as all the additional testing is conducted on all of the donors identified as likely matches. Once the patient’s team decides which donor to proceed with, you will hear back from us to let you know whether you are proceeding to the next stage (Work-up) or no longer need to stand by. We often find our donors are disappointed not to proceed, but please don’t take it personally! Just by being in the donor pool you gave that patient their best possible chance of success.
Some of the information we collect from donors at this stage is quite sensitive – for example, sexual health history and infectious disease test results. For further information on how we manage donor privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.