When signing up to join Ezer Mizion's Bone Marrow Donors Registry, a questionnaire must be filled out providing details regarding the candidate's medical condition. The purpose of the questions is to confirm suitability of the candidate as a potential bone marrow donor. In the list that follows, some conditions appear that do not prevent a person from donating, but which are important for us to know about in advance of the donation.

The list that appears here does not include all conditions that might prevent a person from donating bone marrow. When a match is found for a specific patient, an interview will take place between the potential donor and the doctor, and a medical examination will be done so as to verify that the donation is safe for both the donor and the recipient.

To see a sample form for joining the registry, click here.

Age
The range of ages at which a potential bone marrow donor can join the Registry is: 18-50. Age limits are not intended to serve as a discriminatory factor, but are meant to protect the safety of the donor and ensure the best possible results for the patients. The lower age limit is based on the legal age for consent. A guardian or parent may not sign a release or give his consent on behalf of a child, because donating bone marrow to someone who is not a family member is a voluntary process. The upper age limit is based on considerations of the donor and the recipients and is founded on the laws of other such Registrys around the world.

Aids/Hiv
A person diagnosed with AIDS/HIV or who is a carrier cannot join the Registry.

Allergies
Common allergies to animals, types of food, environmental allergens, medications, and such do not block a person from joining the Registry.

Arthritis
In general, mild to moderate arthritis or degenerative arthritis do not preclude joining the Registry. Mild to moderate arthritis is defined as a condition that affects daily activities only slightly, and in which the patient is treated with medications occasionally. Severe arthritis, such as rheumatic arthritis, parasitic arthritis or advanced stages of other forms of arthritis, do not allow for joining the Registry.

Asthma
Asthma requiring regular/daily use of oral steroids (pills) does not allow joining the Registry. Asthma that is brought on by physical activity or that is controlled by an inhaler (including inhalers that contain steroids), and in which no attacks requiring the administering of steroids orally (by pill) or intravenously (by infusion) or requiring emergency services occurred over the course of the preceding five years, do not prevent the candidate from signing up for the Registry.

Auto-immune Diseases
Most diseases defined as auto-immune disorders, such as: multiple sclerosis, systemiclupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Morphan and Edison Syndromes, do not allow for joining the Registry. But where an under-active thyroid condition and/or regular treatment with Eltroxin exists, as long as the illness is being treated effectively and the medical condition is stable, the candidate may join the Registry.

Blood Diseases
A problem of severe bleeding such as: hemophilia, Factor V Leiden, and a history of suffering from clots or taking anti-clotting medications, does not allow the candidate to join the Registry. Blood diseases such as: aplastic and sickle-cell anemia, CVA, Von Wilbrand Disease, thalassemia or a history of coronary thrombosis (DVT) do not allow for joining the Registry. This prohibition holds also for diopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (also known as ITP), unless the disease occurred during childhood (not over the age of 18) and has passed completely.

Blood Pressure
High blood pressure that is controlled by medications or diet and that does not involve heart disease, does not prevent joining the Registry. See "Heart disease" if relevant.

Cancer
A history of cancer (including myeloma) in the past does not allow for joining the Registry, with the exception of a local cancerous melanoma that was completely removed.

Cold or Flu
Infections that took place recently, such as a cold or flu, do not prevent the candidate from joining the Registry.

Depression/Emotional Health
Depression or emotional illness that required hospitalization or regular use of medication for extended periods do not allow joining the Registry.

Diabetes
Diabetes which is controlled by diet or by oral medication does not preclude joining the Registry. Diabetes requiring insulin, or any other injected medication, or that incurs severe diabetes related health problems, such as kidney, heart or optical disease, does not allow joining the Registry.

Drugs
Use of narcotics by injection in the past or present (even once) does not allow for joining the Registry.

Epilepsy
Epilepsy that is not balanced by pills does not allow joining the Registry.

Heart Disease
The existence of heart disease does not allow for joining the Registry. Included in this definition are heart attacks, a history of blood vessel surgery, bypass operations, heart valve replacement, or pacemakers. At the same time, certain heart diseases, such as irregular heartbeats or MVP - mitral valve prolapse, which do not limit the person or require medication, do not preclude joining the Registry.

Hepatitis
Inoculation to prevent hepatitis or a history of complete recovery from hepatitis A (childhood hepatitis) do not prevent a candidate from joining the Registry. The following conditions preclude joining the Registry: Hepatitis B or C. Positive results in a test for hepatitis B or C. A carrier of hepatitis B or C (also known as "chronic" hepatitis)

Inoculations
Regular inoculations, as well as inoculations before travel abroad do not block joining the Registry.

Intestinal Disease
Chronic intestinal disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis do not allow for joining the Registry.

Kidney Problems
Serious or chronic kidney problems such as: polycystic kidney disease or glomerulonephritis do not allow joining the Registry.
Removal of a kidney due to illness does not allow joining the Registry. Donation of a kidney to another person - after complete recuperation from the surgery, one may join the Registry. A history of kidney stones does not preclude signing up for the Registry.

Liver Disease
Liver diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver or Wilson disease do not allow for joining the Registry. Gilbert Syndrome does not preclude joining the Registry. If relevant, see "Hepatitis".

Piercing (body, skin, ear)
Piercing of the body or ear in the past year does not prevent joining the Registry.

Pregnancy
Pregnancy does not prevent a person from joining the Registry, but stem cells/bone marrow cannot be collected during the course of a pregnancy.

Psoriasis
Severe psoriasis does not allow for joining the Registry.

Respiratory Difficulties
Serious respiratory problems, such as chronic lung blockage, respiratory arrest, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis, do not allow joining the Registry. See "asthma " if relevant.

Tattoos
A tattoo done in the past year does not prevent joining the Registry.

Transplant of Organs or Tissue
The following types of organ transplants do not allow joining the Registry: Vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, bone marrow, blood producing cells, transplant of joints from animals. Transplant of human tissue, such as bone (including bone powder for dental surgery), tendons, skin and corneas do not prevent a candidate from joining the Registry.

Tuberculosis
Active tuberculosis of the pulmonary tuberculosis strain in the past two years does not allow for joining the Registry.

Travel
Travel areas do not preclude joining the Registry. If suitability has been found, and the donor has visited areas that are at risk for infections such as malaria or the mad cows' disease at a time close to the necessary donation, the situation will be considered by a medical panel.

Vaccinations
Standard vaccinations or vaccinations prior to travel abroad do not prevent joining the Registry.

Venereal Disease
Veneral diseases in the past or present, such as: Herpes, HPV do not prevent the candidate from joining the Registry. Gonorrhea that was treated in the last year does not allow joining the Registry.

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