How to join the stem cell donor registry

Joining The Registry is easy and free! There are 2 ways you can join, through a mouth cheek swab or by providing a blood sample.

After you have joined, you’ll be added to the registry and made searchable on the database so doctors can search and find the best match for patients. The chances of being matched with a patient is quite low, only 1 in 1500 Australians are a match in any given year, so donating stem cells isn’t something you will do all the time! And although you are not obliged to donate at that point when you are called and asked if you’d like to donate your stem cells, it is very important to ensure that you are committed when joining. Click here to find out what’s involved in donating stem cells.


Join through a Mouth Cheek Swab

Order your cheek swab kit online by clicking www.urthecure.com.au/swab

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You will receive your kit in the mail with easy step-by-step instructions. Simply use the included swabs (they are similar to a cotton q-tip) to swab the inside of your mouth to get the saliva sample, then post it back. That’s it! Your sample will be added to The Registry to be made searchable and potentially matched with a patient in need!


Eligibility to join through Cheek Swabs

If you are aged between 18 to 35 years old then you are eligible to join (if you are aged 18-30 then you are in the ideal age bracket to join). Additionally:

  • You need to be willing to donate anonymously to any patient in Australia or overseas, you won’t know the identity of the patient receiving your stem cells (please be aware that you do not have to actually travel overseas when donating to an overseas patient, it can all be done locally in Australia).

  • Hold a valid green or blue Medicare card

You’ll also need to be able to answer “NO” to the following questions:

  • Have you ever been diagnosed with thalassaemia major, sickle cell disease, Fanconi anaemia or haemophilia?

  • Have you ever received an organ or bone marrow transplant?

  • Have you ever suffered a stroke or heart attack?

  • Have you ever had a positive test for HTLV or HIV?

  • Have you had any past history of cancer, with the exception of two minor skin cancers – basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Pre-cancerous conditions like carcinoma in situ of the cervix are acceptable

If you have a serious auto-immune disorder you are ineligible to join, these include:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus

  • Multiple Sclerosis

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus

  • Ulcerative colitis

  • Crohn’s disease

  • Ankylosing spondylitis

  • Scleroderma

  • Sarcoidosis

  • Addison’s disease

  • Guillain-Barre syndrome

  • Immune thrombocytopaenic purpura

If you have a minor auto-immune condition you may still be eligible to join, these include:

  • Psoriasis

  • Vitiligo

  • Alopecia areata

  • Coeliac disease

  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, if thyroid function is stable on replacement medication

  • Grave’s thyroiditis, if thyroid function is stable after treatment

  • Pernicious anaemia, if successfully treated

  • Sjoegren’s syndrome, in the absence of serious auto-immune diseases

You can contact info@strengthtogive.org.au if you have any questions about these criteria to join


Who do we need to join?

People aged 18 to 30 (up to 35 is OK) - Younger stem cells perform better in a transplant, giving the patient a better chance at survival.

Culturally diverse people such as Asian, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian and more. People with a mixed ethnicity are also needed. Patients with a culturally diverse background struggle to find their match because there's not enough people from these groups joining The Registry.

Males ideally with a culturally diverse background, but any background is OK. Males physically have more stem cells to give plus biologically don’t have to worry about pregnancy or breastfeeding that can get in the way of donating.

Join through a blood donation at Red Cross Lifeblood

If you’re a blood donor aged 18-35, you’re eligible to join Australia’s blood stem cell donor registry. Click here to sign up (note you will be re-directed to our partner’s website at Strength to Give to register).

At your blood donation appointment let the staff know that you wish to join the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and they will take a small blood sample.

Please be aware that the eligibility for donating blood is different and generally more strict than the eligibility to join The Registry. If you are not eligible to donate blood, then please consider joining through a cheek swab.

To find your nearest Red Cross Lifeblood donor centre visit www.donateblood.com.au (on the website you can enter your post code and your nearest centre details will be displayed including a map).