Living Donor Criteria
Potential donors undergo a rigorous evaluation of their overall mental and physical health to ensure their ability to safely donate a kidney.
All donors must be at least 18 years of age. There is no definitive age cutoff, but all potential donors are evaluated on an individual basis.
Living donor medical work-up includes but is not limited to:
- 24-hour urine collection (requirement is two normal results)
- Renal anatomy and vasculature via CTA of the abdomen and pelvis
- Weight is individualized based on habitus. Targeted BMI < 35 for all potential renal donors
- Negative TB Quant or clearance from infectious disease if PPD+ or with history of TB
- Psychosocial evaluation or clearance from psychiatrist/clinical psychologist as indicated
- CXR / EKG
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
- Serologies
- Compatibility testing
- Age specific testing (e.g. PSA, stress test, etc.)
- Cancer screening
- Any additional testing deemed necessary by the surgeon
Contraindications to living donation include but are not limited to:
- Heart or lung disease
- Diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes
- Gastric bypass surgery in the last year, or active kidney stones as a result of surgery
- Active cancer
- History of cancer is subject to further discussion by the donor surgeon and the kidney transplant committee
- Kidney disease, chronic kidney infections or active kidney stone disease
- Hypertension requiring treatment with two or more antihypertensives
- BMI > 35%, depending on body habitus and surgeon discretion
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Multiple sclerosis
- Hepatitis C
- HIV
- Crohn’s disease
- Female donors must refrain from use of birth control or hormone replacement for four to six weeks
The psychosocial evaluation by the living donor social worker includes:
- Absence of psychological problems
- Current, effective treatment of psychological problems
- Evidence of high-risk behavior
Living donor advocate evaluation by the living donor social worker that represents:
- No evidence of coercion
- Ability to make decisions for self
- Understanding of risks related to kidney donation
Potential donors can begin the screening process by accessing our living donor portal.