Individuals must be between the ages of 16 (minimum) and 60 (maximum).
Applicants should generally be in good health.
Body Mass Index (BMI) must be below 40.
Applicants should not have recently solicited a swab online from RCMR.
Cord Blood Donors can join the register from birth.

Have an enlarged thyroid or underactive thyroid.
·   Have stable and symptom-free thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (not applicable for Graves' disease).
·   Experience iron-deficiency anaemia that is treatable with iron supplements.
·   Suffer from hay fever, mild asthma, or food allergies.
·   Have had basalioma or cervical carcinoma in situ, provided they have been fully removed.
·   Experience unipolar depression or mild depression without any limitations in daily life and have had no previous manic episodes.
·   Have high blood pressure that is stable and well-controlled.

Registration will be unavailable if you have any of the following conditions:

Severe heart, lung, or kidney diseases
Severe illnesses of the central nervous system
Severe mental health conditions
Severe metabolic diseases
Addictions: alcohol, drugs, tablets
Severe tropical infectious diseases
Infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, syphilis
Systemic autoimmune diseases or other severe chronic illnesses, e.g., diabetes or rheumatism
Cancer, including previous cancer diagnosis.
Diseases of the haematopoietic system (blood disorders).

RCMR encourages individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds to sign up because tissue characteristics, including blood stem cell compatibility, can vary significantly among different ethnic groups.

Having a diverse pool of potential donors increases the chances of finding suitable matches for patients in need of transplants.

By registering with RCMR and providing information about your ethnic background, you contribute to the creation of a more comprehensive database of potential donors.

This database enables doctors to locate compatible donors more efficiently, potentially saving lives through faster matching processes.

The need for RCMR arises because the loss of lives is a pressing concern.

Every individual requiring a blood transfusion, stem cell therapy, or organ transplant depends on finding a suitable donor to meet their specific needs.

Unfortunately, as numerous families sadly attest, suitable donors are not always located. This challenge is especially pronounced, and unfairly so, within the mixed heritage and ethnic minority populations globally.

This has specially been highlighted in the UK, with the publishing of the “APPG Report "Where are our nation's donors?”

RCMR embodies a grassroots movement, fostering connections between donors and potential recipients to optimize the process of life-saving treatments. Our approach is adaptable and built on collaboration, ensuring swift and impactful solutions.

Individuals aged 16 to 60, in overall good health, are eligible to register as blood stem cell donors.

Those at age 16 can complete the registration process but will be included in the active registry after turning 18.

The upper age limit aims to safeguard donors' well-being and ensure optimal treatment for patients.

Younger donors are often preferred and typically encounter fewer health complications during donation.

Additionally, advancing age brings higher risks associated with anaesthesia.