78th MDG establishes first AF bone marrow registry in state Published Dec. 6, 2013 By 78th Medical Group ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 78th Medical Group has established a walk-in registration site for the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Bone Marrow Registry. This is the first walk-in site for an Air Force installation in Georgia, according to 1st Lt. Melissa Campos, 78th MDG Lab Flight commander and recruitment campaign coordinator. Robins joins Fort Benning, the Army installation in Columbus. "We are now open for business," she said. "I'm really excited to announce the start of this life-saving initiative called 'Salute to Life. "We have a large population of military, civilians, family members and retirees on and around Robins that we would like to reach out to." Joining the registry is almost effortless and completely painless. Participants fill out a short two-page DOD consent form, and a swab is taken from inside the mouth. "It is easy to register and can be accomplished in less than five minutes," said Campos. "No one is obligated. They can always say no at any time during the donor selection process." Potential donors receive an official card signifying they have registered as a bone marrow donor. The registrant will remain on the registry until their 60th birthday or when asked to be removed. Those who have already registered and need to update their info can do so online at www.salutetolife.org. The DOD program is part of the national program and coordinates marrow and hematopoietic stem cell donations of volunteer military personnel and civilian DOD employees. The design of the program allows them to meet the special needs of military marrow and stem cell donors. While donors join the National Marrow Donor Registry, they do so through a separate donor management system which offers higher security and staff who understand the complexities of military life. The DOD program is also able to allow immediate donor searches in the event of a mass casualty incident involving nuclear or chemical agents. After a potential donor completes the initial registration and the results are added to the National Marrow Donor Registry, the process becomes an indefinite holding pattern, unless a potential match is found. If a preliminary match has been identified, the donor will then be contacted for additional blood testing. If it's then determined there is a match, the donor will receive further insight on continuing the donation process. At that time, it will be up to the donor to make an informed decision if he or she still wants to go through with the entire process. Participation costs nothing. The DOD Donor Program covers all of the costs of registration, typing and testing. If a person is called to donate, they don't pay the associated medical and travel expenses. Since 1991, the program has served military and DOD personnel and their dependents. More than 760,000 individuals have joined the national donor registry through the program, making the center one of the largest in America. About 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. - more than 500 of them in the Defense Department - are diagnosed each year with leukemia, aplastic anemia or other fatal blood diseases. For many, a bone marrow transplant is their only hope. Because tissue types are inherited and some tissue types are unique, a patient's best chance is within his or her ethnic and racial group. Since 75 percent of the patients in need of a marrow transplant cannot find a match within their own family, a strong national database is essential for identifying potential donors. The larger and more diverse the National Marrow Donor Registry becomes, the greater the chance of finding lifesaving matches. Anyone between the ages of 18 to 60 is eligible to donate. To register to become a donor, please visit the laboratory in the 78th Medical Group, Bldg. 700. Walk-in hours are Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on national holidays, down days, and the second and fourth Thursdays of each month after 11 a.m. For information on how to register: Contact the 78th MDG laboratory at 478-327-7936 or visit www.salutetolife.org. Become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/ DODMarrow.