An end to restrictions on young women donors may assist a campaign to achieve a big increase in stem cell donors.
NHS Blood and Transplant has announced it will now accept white women aged 17 to 40 as donors. Previously it only accepted women of Black, Asian or mixed heritage.
The move is part of a drive to increase the number of donors by 30,000 a year. NHS Blood and Transplant said there is “growing evidence” that age is more significant than sex as a factor in the health and efficacy of stem cells.
The NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry has 400,000 people on it. However, although 72% of donations taken are from people under the age of 40, only 35% of donors are under 40.
NHS Blood and Transplant’s head of stem cell donation and transplantation Guy Parkes said: “There is always a need for more stem cell donors and so we’re thrilled to now be able to welcome all women aged 17-40 to the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry, too.
“Growing research has shown that donor age is an important factor when it comes to transplants, so we’re urging everybody under 40, male or female, to think about signing up.
“We’ve launched this ambitious new campaign target, asking 30,000 people to join our stem cell register this year, to help find a match for the increasing number of people needing stem cell transplants every year and to reduce the country’s reliance on seeking donors from abroad, which can be expensive for the NHS.”
Source: NHS Blood and Transplant
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