What is the next step after a preliminary search?
To continue the search process, the patient must be referred to an NMDP transplant center. A formal relationship is developed between the patient and his or her treating physician, the transplant center and the NMDP. To identify the best adult volunteer donor or cord blood unit for the patient, an NMDP transplant center selects potential donors and/or cord blood units from the NMDP for testing on behalf of a patient. (This process is called the formal search.) Further testing is needed to: • Determine whether potential donors or cord blood units are matched at the level of resolution and at all HLA loci required by the transplant center’s protocol. • Confirm the original typing. For a potential marrow or PBSC donor, this requires a fresh blood sample. Potential marrow or PBSC donors are also educated about the donation process, screened for any health problems and asked to confirm their availability and commitment to donating. The NMDP process of identifying an unrelated donor or cord
