Organ Allocation

The allocation process typically begins before organs are recovered in order to minimize ischemic damage.

Once an organ is deemed medically suitable for donation, the potential donor’s information is entered into UNet to match the donor’s organs with recipients on the transplant waiting list. Specific queries are run for each eligible organ. UNet then generates a priority list of waitlisted patients based on a number of suitability factors, including:

  • Geographical proximity of the recipient and the donor 
  • Time spent on the waiting list
  • The potential recipient’s health status
  • HLA crossmatch
  • Blood-type and subtype

There are many national, state, and local policies that guide allocation. There are separate allocation rules for each type of organ. [43] [44]

Once the viable organs are entered into UNet, a list of potential recipients from the national waiting list is generated for each individual organ. The OPO then offers the organ to the transplant program of the top-listed waiting list candidate. If the recipient’s transplant surgeon accepts the organ, recovery surgery is arranged.  

The allocation process typically begins before organs are recovered, and the potential donor’s information is entered into UNet to match the donor’s organs with recipients on the transplant waiting list.

∧