How to Register Online & Swab at Home
In light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen a drastic increase in the number of people who have committed to joining the registry online. This process can seem a bit overwhelming for potential donors, so we would like to educate people about the simplicity behind it all. For this week's blog post, we will explain and guide you through the process of joining the registry online and swabbing from home.
Registering Online
To join the Be The Match Registry, the first step is to go to http://join.bethematch.org/missionmarrow. You may even click “Join The Registry” at the top right corner of our website or text MissionMarrow to 61474.
After this, you will see a button in the center of the page asking you to join the registry from the Be The Match website. This will lead you to begin your account by filling out your name and an email that is best to contact you with.
Once you have entered in your basic information, you will be asked to fill out a simple questionnaire regarding your ethnic background, eligibility, and contact information. Then, there will be a few final steps to receive your swab kit and complete your account.
Once you have completed the questionnaire, you will reach the second to last step where you will confirm the address the swab kit will be sent to. Once that is completed, you will be done creating your account and ordering a swab kit online.
Swabbing from Home
Begin by opening your kit and checking to make sure your kit has the same labels and ID numbers.
Next, open your kit and take out your swabs. Once you make sure that you swallow and your mouth is empty, take your first swab and place it on the inside of your cheek and swab for about 10 seconds. As you pull out your swab, brush it over the inside of your lips.
After you have swabbed, remove the sticker label from your kit and wrap it around the bottom of your swab. Then, peel off the sticker from the pad on your swab kit and stick the swabs facing the way that is shown in the kit.
Repeat this process on your other cheek with the second swab and wrap the second label around the bottom of your swab.
Once you have completed swabbing by wrapping both the labels around the bottom of the swab sticks and placing them into your kit, close your kit and place it into the return envelope. Put your envelope into the mailbox and raise the flag.
This completes the process of swabbing from home! Your kit will be sent to the lab for testing and you will officially be a part of the registry in 6 weeks.
Here is a short instructional video on the steps listed above:
Be on the lookout for our next blog post on August 15!
