Donate blood, join bone-marrow registry Dec. 15 in Sze

Center News

The Puget Sound Blood Center is sponsoring a joint blood drive and bone-marrow registry drive Friday, Dec. 15, in the Sze East/West conference rooms in the Thomas Building from 9-11:30 a.m. and 12:15-3 p.m.

Blood donors can avoid any waiting by scheduling a specific donation time on the Blood Center's Web site at www.psbc.org/programs/drive.asp?URL=1455.

Employees can also join the National Marrow Donor Program Registry that day. Of the thousands of people with life-threatening illnesses awaiting marrow or stem-cell transplants, about 70 percent do not have a genetically matched family member who can donate for them. Because tissue types are inherited, patients are most likely to find a match within their own ethnic or racial group. Only a small percentage of registrants are people of color.

Joining the registry

Persons of color register for free. Caucasian donors are asked to contribute a $52 tax-deductible donation to cover their tissue-type testing. Donors do not need to pay on the day of the drive. A Bone Marrow Donor Program employee will contact the donor with payment options.

To join the registry, complete necessary paperwork detailing contact information and health history ahead of the drive. The 10-minute screening involves swabbing the inside of your cheeks. There are no needles or travel restrictions. You do not need to donate blood or have an appointment to join the bone-marrow registry.

For more information, or to pick up a registry application, please contact Colleen Steelquist at (206) 667-5035.

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