Canadian Blood Services is pushing for more people to get involved with stem cell donation.

The organization recently held a stem cell donation drive at College of the North Atlantic’s Prince Phillip Drive Campus, during which 45 students were swabbed.

Community Development Manager Gord Skiffington says those who want to register are be asked to fill out an online questionnaire, and then are given a swab kit.

The results from the swab are then sent back to the lab and they are put on the stem cell donation registry.

Skiffington explains there are about 80 conditions for which stem cells can be donated, and about 1,000 patients waiting for a donor.

He says the chances of someone showing up as a match are “slim,” but for those who do they may be the last chance at a patient’s survival.

More information about stem cell donation can be found online.