Is donating blood stem cells the same as donating blood?

When you register with DKMS Foundation India, you are making yourself available as a potential blood stem cell donor for a patient in need of a transplant. You will only be asked to donate if you match with a patient. You will then be asked to donate blood stem cells in a procedure that is similar to donating blood platelets. You can remain a regular blood donor after registering as a stem cell donor, however if you do match with a patient, we ask that you don’t give blood for a month prior to donation and for a few months after.