Fecal Matters: Rancho Cordova Center Seeking Life-Saving Stool Donations
RANCHO CORDOVA (CBS13) — The first stool donation center in the Sacramento area has opened with hopes of collecting donations to help people with digestive tract problems.
While many pride themselves on being regular blood donors, taking a prick to save lives by sharing bodily fluids, there's another way to help those in need in Rancho Cordova.
"It's a unique donation, definitely something that not everyone is interested in doing," said Nicole Henderson with Advancing Bio.
The new collection center owned by Blood Source isn't asking for blood, rather your stool.
"If they were in fact eligible they would make their stool donation here on site," she said.
No needles required, just some privacy to leave a heaping helping for someone in need. The specimens are collected, treated and then kept on ice.
"With fecal microbiota transplant, it really provides a quick and high effective way to treat these patients who are suffering from C. Diff colitis," said Dr. Donny Dumani.
C. Diff colitis is a persistent gastrointestinal bacterial infection that can be deadly without proper care.
"More than 15,000 Americans are dying each year from this infection," he said.
Doctors have found that transplanting healthy stool and its bacteria into the gastrointestinal tracts of those suffering from the disease can be highly effective—a more than 90 percent cure rate.
"Fecal transplants are actually not new, they've been done for a number of years, however over the past few years they've gained more and more acceptance," Henderson said.
She admits it's been a challenge recruiting donors who often think of the process as private or embarrassing. She says they're working to change that.
"It's something that they're likely doing everyday, so if they're healthy they can come and do it here and we can save a patient with it," she said.
Donors need to be between 18 and 65 and in relatively fit condition. There is no payment for your service.