"In fact, the marrow still in the bone is in something of a state of hibernation and has no function. It has to become mature, divide, and enter the bloodstream before it becomes functional," explains Huang Hai-hsiang, a lab supervisor at the registry. Marrow donation requires taking only 5 % of the hibernating marrow cells and transferring them to the person who needs them.
「其實存在於骨頭中的骨髓好比處於『冬眠期』，沒有功能，必須要等到成熟、分化，進到血液時，才具有功能性，」慈濟骨髓捐贈中心股長黃海祥解釋，捐髓只是抽取約百分之五的「冬眠期」骨髓細胞，移植到有需要的人身上。