Description of Donation Options Marrow is found in the hollow
cavities of the body's large bones. Donation involves
withdrawing 2-3 percent of the donor's total marrow from the
iliac crest of the hip, posterior aspect of the donor's pelvic
bone. There is no cutting or stitching. The procedure involves a
needle aspiration, performed using an anesthetic. Typically, the
donor enters a medical center’s outpatient facility in the
morning and goes home in the afternoon! Blood Stem Cells It is
possible to collect stem cells from the peripheral blood rather
than the bone marrow. In order to collect a sufficient quantity
of stem cells, injections of a medication called filgrastim must
be administered. This mobilizes stem cells to travel from the
bone marrow into the circulating blood. The stem cells are
collected through a procedure called apheresis, which is similar
to the process used in platelet donation. A cell separating
machine filters out the stem cells, which can them be infused in
the recipient. Marrow versus