Factors associated with registrant availability for unrelated adult donor hematopoietic stem cell donation: Analysis of the stem cell registry at Canadian Blood Services

Abstract

Background Greater use of unrelated donors to support hematopoietic cell transplantation can be hampered by unavailability of registrants when identified as potential candidates for donation. Methods Multivariate analysis was performed to identify donor factors associated with availability for verification of human leukocyte antigen typing (VT) needed before donor activation. All VT requests for registrants on the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry between 1 January and 31 December 2018 were reviewed (n = 1358). Results Potential donors identified by transplant centers were categorized as available at the time of VT but ineligible for medical or other reasons (n = 130 and excluded from further analysis), available (n = 622) or unavailable (n = 566) due to scheduling, loss of interest, and/or inability to contact. With multivariate analysis, registrants who previously donated blood, those recruited online or from blood donation clinics, and a shorter interval between registration and VT request were significantly correlated with increased donor availability. Donor sex and geographic location, however, displayed no correlation. Conclusion Online registration and recruitment at whole blood donation centers should be enhanced to increase the availability of registrants at VT. More insight is needed to maintain registrant availability following community in‐person recruitment events, especially if the interval between registration and activation is prolonged. Recruitment of male registrants who are well informed should not negatively impact availability.

A review of whole‐blood donors' willingness, motives, barriers and interventions related to donating another substance of human origin

“…Potential haemopoietic stem cell donors who continued on the registry were more likely to be blood donors than those who opted out, 20 and blood donation was linked to significantly greater availability for, 27 or continuation with, 31 confirmatory/verification typing. Approximately 60% of blood donors on a stem cell registry completed confirmatory/verification typing when asked 26,27 . In another study, 44%–48% of blood donors on a registry who were contacted as a potential match completed further typing 31 …”

“…Blood donation was positively associated with joining a stem cell registry. 28 Approximately one-third 23 to one-half 21,27 of stem cell registrants had donated blood products, and 80% of blood donors who planned to donate stem cells successfully donated. 22 Of women who donated their umbilical cord blood, half had donated blood.…”

“…Approximately 60% of blood donors on a stem cell registry completed confirmatory/verification typing when asked. 26,27 In another study, 44%-48% of blood donors on a registry who were contacted as a potential match completed further typing. 31 Attrition 20% of blood donors' planned stem cell donations were cancelled, with approximately half of cancellations due to a donor-related cause (medical deferral 62%, personal grounds 38%).…”

Demand and usage of unrelated donor products for allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry analysis

“…With adaptations to the pandemic, collection and banking of CBUs resumed in Canada within a period of 4 months. Shifting the registration of potential donors to a completely on‐line registration process has occurred, which may enhance donor availability at the time of donor activation [ 17 ]; however, the effectiveness of this method remains a challenge.…”

Improving the Availability of Unrelated Stem Cell Donors: Evidence from a Major Donor Registry

“…Correlates of attrition are ethnic background (Switzer et al, 2004;Myaskovsky et al, 2004;Onitilo et al, 2004;Lown et al, 2014), which can be due to religious and medical objections to donation, less trust that stem cells would be allocated equitably, and a greater likelihood of having been discouraged from donating (e.g., Onitilo et al, 2004;Switzer et al, 2013). Other correlates include time in the registry (Switzer et al, 1999;Monaghan et al, 2021), whether registration was patient-centered (Switzer et al, 2004), age (Switzer et al, 2013), sex (Lown et al, 2014;Fingrut et al, 2018), and communication of being the only known donor match to the patient (Switzer et al, 2018). Anthias et al (2020) find that donor's mental and physical health, as well as interaction with the registry correlate with CT availability.…”