OPTN Statement on HIV, HepC Donor

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Transplant

professionals do all within their ability to minimize the risk of disease

transmission from donor to recipient. This risk is

very small but can never be zero. In any transplant

situation, the medical team treating the patient must use its best judgment and

weigh the substantial risks of not doing a transplant (death or complications of

organ failure) versus the slight risk of disease transmission.

HRSA

regulations require the OPTN to develop policies consistent with the

recommendations of CDC, for the testing of organ donors and follow-up of

transplant recipients to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. OPTN policy also requires that the OPO communicate this

risk status along with the donor offer to transplant centers.

Based on information we have available in this instance, those OPTN

requirements were followed. OPTN policy also provides

for immediate trackback in case a significant

donor-transmitted disease is suspected, to ensure that all recipients are

properly identified, tested and treated. That policy

was applied in this instance………….

http://www.optn.org/news/newsDetail.asp?id=977