FAQ about cell donations

After you register with the Cell Community, we will contact you as soon as you are eligible for a specific cell donation. We will arrange the appointment individually with you and take your preferred time periods into account.

Yes, you will receive monetary compensation for each cell donation. The amount depends on the type and scope of the donation. Our team will inform you in advance and in a transparent manner about the exact amount.

Your cells support the development of new therapies – in research, clinical trials or laboratory experiments. In a preliminary discussion, you will learn exactly how your donation will be used.

During the preliminary examination, you will have a detailed consultation with a doctor. Together, we will go through your health questionnaire and take a blood sample to test for important infection parameters (e.g. HIV, hepatitis, CMV).

For a bone marrow donation, an additional appointment with the anaesthetist is necessary.

Depending on the type of donation, medically recommended minimum intervals apply:

• Whole blood donation: every 8 weeks
• Mobilised whole blood donation: maximum of 1 donation every 12 months, maximum of 2 donations in a lifetime
• Lymphocyte donation: every 3 months
• Mobilised blood stem cells: maximum of 1 donation every 12 months, maximum of 2 donations in a lifetime

Your health is our priority!

No – cell donation is not possible during pregnancy. We look forward to welcoming you back to the donor circle after you have finished breastfeeding.

We currently offer donation appointments Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Donations are not currently accepted on weekends.

Yes, as long as you are not actively registered for donation or typing, you can donate cells for research with us. Please inform us if your donor file contacts you.

That may be possible! Many of our cell donations are not intended for direct use on patients and are therefore subject to different requirements. Please feel free to ask us for more information.

Yes! Your sexual orientation is not a criterion for exclusion from research donations. In rare cases, special requirements may apply to clinical studies, which we will inform you about in advance.

Of course! You don’t need German citizenship. Our staff speak German and English and will guide you through the entire process.

In principle, yes, unless your new tattoo is located in the crook of your elbow or on your forearm – please let us know during the preliminary examination so that we can check your suitability for donation on an individual basis.

That depends on the disease. Many chronic or past illnesses are not an obstacle. You may not be suitable for regular cell donation, but there is still a chance that we can include you in our special database for research projects and innovative cell therapies. In this database, we specifically record people with certain pre-existing conditions or medical characteristics whose cells are particularly valuable for research.

This rarely happens. If an appointment has to be postponed, we will of course reimburse you for the preliminary examination and suggest a new appointment as soon as possible.