Red Cross Calls for Stool Donations to Boost Lifesaving Faecal Transplant Treatments

The Red Cross is calling for stool donations as part of a program that involves faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a procedure that has proven to be beneficial in treating certain diseases. FMT, also known as stool transplants, involves transferring the healthy gut bacteria from a donor to a recipient with the aim to restore the recipient's gut bacteria to their functioning state.

The procedure has proven to be successful in treating various conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, severe or complicated Clostridium difficile infection unresponsive to antibiotics, and even autism. The procedure has a transformative effect on the gut biome that a course of probiotics can't achieve on their own.

Stool donations are processed in a lab, where the healthy bacteria are separated and introduced into the patient's gut. However, finding suitable donors is a challenge as only about 3% of potential donors are deemed suitable for transplantation.

To address the shortage of suitable donors, the Red Cross is looking to expand its pool of donors to increase its stockpile. They are seeking diversity in their donor pool, as different gut biomes provide different benefits. Potential donors must be healthy, aged between 18 and 50, and undergo a series of medical tests before their stool is accepted. The Red Cross is looking to create a nationwide donation hub to increase accessibility.

Despite the unusual nature of the donation, the Red Cross assures that they undertake a lot of testing to ensure they are getting a healthy product. They aim to make the process as easy as possible for donors and are in the process of creating a nationwide donation hub to increase accessibility. They are hoping that more people will step up to donate, contributing to this lifesaving treatment.