Can my baby find a public stem cell match if we don't bank their stem cells?

There are multiple factors that play a part in finding a stem cell match from a public bank.

From our friends at Be the Match, "Research has found that a donor must match a minimum of 6 HLA markers. Many times a closer match is required. The best match is found through detailed testing. Because some HLA types are more common than others, some patients may face a greater challenge in finding a matching donor. Some HLA types are found more often in certain racial and ethnic groups.

"A close match between a donor’s and a patient’s HLA markers is essential for a successful transplant outcome. HLA matching promotes the growth and development of new healthy blood cells (called engraftment) and reduces the risk of a post-transplant complication called graft-versus-host (GVHD) disease."

Your odds of finding a donor match based on ethnic background are as follows:

• Black or African American: 29%
• Asian or Pacific Islander: 47%
• Hispanic or Latino: 48%
• American Indian & Alaska Native: 60%

• White: 79%

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