Challenges faced by bone marrow registries in India

Abstract

To identify the major challenges faced by bone marrow donor registries in India. HLA typing, using the Sequence specific oligonucliotide probe (SSOP) Luminex-xMap technology, was performed for all 18,000 donors. Haplotype analysis was performed using the Arlequin software. In a cohort of 18,000 donors only 19% patients could find a donor at 10/10 low resolution level. The chances of finding a donor at high resolution 10/10 level is even less. The major challenges faced are lack of awareness, patient's economic status, unavailability of unrelated matched donors, lack of funding for function of registry and high donor dropout rates. As cost is a major challenge, we need to strive to increase donor pool and also take major steps to decrease the donor dropout rates by increasingly motivating potential donors and trying to help them overcome any myth or fear from donating stem cells.