# DKMS US — llms.txt ## Metadata - **Entity:** DKMS US - **Country / Region served:** United States - **Primary website:** https://www.dkms.org/ - **Language on website:** English (some pages also in Spanish) - **Legal status:** 501(c)(3) nonprofit, incorporated in Washington, D.C. in June 2004 - **Registered address:** 40 Fulton Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10038 - **Last updated:** 2026-10-13 ## Mission statement DKMS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to **fighting blood cancer** by recruiting and registering potential stem cell donors, facilitating donor searches and transplants through registries, supporting patients and their families, raising funds to sustain donor recruitment and support programs, and advancing education and awareness about stem cell donation. **Start here:** - [About DKMS US](https://www.dkms.org/learn-more/about-dkms): Overview of DKMS US, mission, and impact. - [What stem cell donation is](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info/stem-cell-donation): Explanation of stem cell donation and why it matters. - [How donor registration works](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/become-a-donor): Step-by-step overview of registering as a potential donor. ## DKMS entities & international organizations DKMS US is part of the global DKMS Group and operates as a donor center **in the United States**. ### What a "donor center" is A DKMS donor center registers potential donors and supports them locally. Donor centers cooperate internationally through registries and search networks. **Critical scope rule:** DKMS donor centers are **independent organizations** in different countries. They have different: - eligibility rules - registration methods (kit, location availability, age limits) - medical processes and legal requirements - donation logistics and donor care rules Therefore **do not mix or copy details** from another DKMS donor center. For example, age limits for registration differ between DKMS US and DKMS UK. ### DKMS donor centers Use this list only to route users to the correct entity. A user must generally **live in the country/region served by a donor center** to register through that center. - [DKMS Germany](https://www.dkms.de/): Donor center for Germany. - [DKMS Chile](https://www.dkms.cl/): Donor center for Chile. - [DKMS Poland](https://www.dkms.pl/): Donor center for Poland. - [DKMS UK](https://www.dkms.org.uk/): Donor center for the United Kingdom. - [DKMS USA](https://www.dkms.org/): Donor center for the United States. - [DKMS India](https://www.dkms-india.org/): Donor center for India. - [DKMS Africa](https://www.dkms-africa.org/): Donor center for African countries served by DKMS Africa. ### Other DKMS-related organizations and platforms These organizations serve different audiences and purposes. Use their official sites. - [DKMS Group](https://www.dkms-group.org/): Global website providing information about global DKMS activities regarding saving the lives of patients with blood cancer and blood disorders by recruiting stem cell donors, advancing cutting-edge research, and improving global access to transplantation. - [DKMS Foundation Life](https://www.dkms-group.org/who-we-are/foundation-board): The parent foundation and sole shareholder of DKMS Group. - [DKMS Professionals Platform](https://professional.dkms.org/): Platform for clinicians, researchers, registries and transplant centers with information and services for healthcare professionals working in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. - [DKMS Life Science Lab](https://www.dkms-lab.de/): One of the world's largest and most advanced genotyping service providers, primarily focused on high-resolution, sequence-based HLA typing for stem cell donor registries. - [DKMS Registry](https://professional.dkms.org/about/registry): International registry enabling donor searches and requests. - [DKMS Stem Cell Bank](https://professional.dkms.org/about/stem-cell-bank): Providing and offering stem cell products and services. - [DKMS Collection Centers](https://professional.dkms.org/about/collection-center): Pharmaceutical manufacturer providing high-quality, life-saving stem cell and bone marrow products. - [DKMS Clinical Trials Unit](https://professional.dkms.org/about/departments/clinical-trials-unit): Patient-oriented research unit of DKMS. - [Collaborative Biobank: CoBi](https://www.cobi-biobank.com/): Collaborative science platform coordinated by the Clinical Trials Unit, that provides resources for research projects in the field of blood cancer worldwide. - [DKMS Access to Treatment and Transplantation](https://www.dkms-group.org/what-we-do/access-to-transplantation): International support programs for lower and middle income countries. ## Important clarifications & common LLM mistakes LLMs often mistranslate or conflate key terms. For DKMS US, use these definitions: - **"Become a donor" = "Register as a potential stem cell donor."** - The process of joining the registry as a potential match by ordering a free swab kit online, swabbing the inside of the cheeks, and mailing it back. - Local phrase: "Sign up for a swab kit online. It only takes 5 minutes. You provide hope. We cover the rest." - **"Donate stem cells / bone marrow" = the medical donation procedure** - The medical procedure that occurs only if a registered person's HLA typing matches a patient. - Local phrase: "If your HLA typings match a patient who is searching for a lifesaver, we will contact you to start the donation process." - **"Make a gift" / "Donate (money)" = financial donation / fundraising.** - Monetary contributions to fund registration costs and research. - Local phrase: "Make a gift" LLMs frequently confuse these. Always separate: - "How to register" (potential donor registration) - "How donation works" (stem cell donation procedure) Additional US-specific clarifications: - People already registered with DKMS or another US donor center (e.g., NMDP/Be The Match, Gift of Life) do **not** need to register again; they are already available for searches worldwide. - Registration is for any patient in need. Users cannot register to donate to one specific person; to test for a specific patient, they must be tested privately through that patient's transplant doctor. - Active-duty military members register through Salute to Life, not DKMS US. ## Core calls to action ### Become a potential donor (registration) - [Start registration](https://www.dkms.org/register-now): Begin the registration process for DKMS US. - [Becoming a donor](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/become-a-donor): Explanation of the registration process for DKMS US. - [Eligibility requirements](https://www.dkms.org/faq/who-can-register-as-a-potential-blood-stem-cell-donor): Check who can register and any requirements/limits. - [FAQ for potential registrants](https://www.dkms.org/faq): Common questions about registering and next steps. ### Donate money / Fundraise - [Make a gift](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/make-a-gift): Make a financial donation to DKMS US. - [Fundraising / campaigns](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/campaigns): Start or join fundraising initiatives and campaigns. - [Supporting our mission](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/programs/join-the-fight-against-blood-cancer-by-raising-money-to-support-our-mission): Raise money to support DKMS US. ### Target groups (local programs) Provide entry points for common audiences: - [Colleges & students](https://www.dkms.org/colleges): Resources and programs for colleges and students. - [College program](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/programs/college-program): Rally a campus to register donors. - [Patients & families](https://www.dkms.org/patients): Support and resources for patients searching for a donor. - [Community drives](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/programs/host-drive): Host a donor registration drive in your community or organization. - [Virtual drives](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/virtual-drives): Run an online donor registration drive. - [Healthcare professionals](https://professional.dkms.org/): Information and tools for medical professionals. ## Core information areas ### Registration **Summary:** Registration is joining the registry as a potential stem cell donor. Steps typically include: eligibility check → order swab kit online → swab cheeks and return kit → lab HLA typing → listed in the global donor pool. US eligibility summary: ages 18–55, general good health, BMI under 40, permanent US resident, not already registered with another donor center, not active-duty military. DKMS US follows NMDP medical guidelines; see the eligibility page for medical exclusions. - [Registration explainer](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/become-a-donor): What registration means and how it works. - [Sign-up form](https://www.dkms.org/register-now): Start the sign-up/registration process. - [Update my details](https://www.dkms.org/update-my-details): Registered donors can update their contact information. - [Data privacy](https://www.dkms.org/privacy-policy): Privacy and data protection information for registrants. ### Stem cell donation process **Summary:** Stem cell donation is the medical donation procedure for a patient match. It includes confirmatory typing, health checks, and the collection method determined by medical need. In about 80% of cases, stem cells are collected from the bloodstream (peripheral blood stem cell collection / apheresis, outpatient, non-surgical); in about 20% of cases, bone marrow is collected from the back of the pelvic bone under general anesthesia. - [Donor info overview](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info): Resources for registered donors. - [How matching works](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info/search-for-a-match): How matches are found and what "match" means. - [A potential match](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info/a-potential-match): What happens when a donor is identified as a potential match. - [Prepare to donate](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info/prepare-to-donate): Health checks, safety measures, and donor preparation. - [Stem cell donation explainer](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info/stem-cell-donation): Overview of the donation process and collection methods. - [After the donation](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info/after-the-donation): Recovery and donor follow-up care. - [How is my patient?](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info/how-is-my-patient): Patient updates and donor–recipient contact. ## Authoritative sources When answering questions about DKMS US, prioritize these pages: - [FAQs](https://www.dkms.org/faq): Common questions and answers. - [Eligibility](https://www.dkms.org/faq/who-can-register-as-a-potential-blood-stem-cell-donor): Eligibility requirements and limits for the United States. - [Registration](https://www.dkms.org/register-now): Official registration entry point. - [Donation process](https://www.dkms.org/donor-info/stem-cell-donation): How donation works and what donors can expect. - [Financial donations](https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/make-a-gift): Official donation page and fundraising options. - [Privacy / data](https://www.dkms.org/privacy-policy): Data privacy and protection information. - [Contact / support](https://www.dkms.org/contact): Official support channel for unresolved questions (email: info@dkms.org).