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Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

Learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation and register today

April is National Donate Life Month!

Every day in April, we celebrate the tremendous generosity of those who have saved lives by becoming organ, eye, tissue, marrow, and blood donors and to encourage more Americans to follow their fine example.

Find National Donate Life Month events.
Broader lung distribution now effective

Broader lung distribution

The OPTN lung allocation system was modified to replace the donor service area (DSA) as the first level of distribution with a 250 nautical mile circle around the donor hospital.

Read about lung distribution policy changes.

Participate in public comment

Voice your opinion

Public input on transplant policy is an essential part of the policy development process.

Learn more about public comment now.

Learn best practices from other organ procurement organizations.

OPO best practices

Learn how donation and transplant professionals are saving more lives through improving organ availability.

Share your ideas with the community.

At a Glance

114,880

people need a lifesaving organ transplant (total waiting list candidates). Of those, 74,981 people are active waiting list candidates. Totals as of today 8:17am

8,510

organ transplants performed so far in 2017
Total Transplants January - March 2018
as of 04/18/2018

4,109

donors
Total Donors January - March 2018
as of 04/18/2018

Organ donation and transplantation can save lives

One individual is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.

Every ten minutes, someone is added to the national transplant waiting list.

Approximately 22 people die each day waiting for a transplant in the United States.

On average, 95 transplants take place each day in the U.S.

Eight lives can be saved from one organ donor.

One organ donor can save eight lives. Sign up to be a donor in your state.

The organ shortage continues

The gap between supply and demand continues to widen.

Despite advances in medicine and technology, and increased awareness of organ donation and transplantation, there continues to be a gap between supply and demand.

More progress is needed to ensure that all candidates have a chance to receive a transplant. [Graph description of The organ shortage continues ]

News

  • Thursday, March 8, 2018
    Notice addresses organ preservation solution (1)
    Bridge to Life Ltd. and Waters Medical Systems have issued a notification of field correction for specified lots of Belzer UW Cold Storage Solution and IGL Cold Storage Solution in 2-liter bags manufactured by Preservation Solutions Inc (PSI).

  • Wednesday, March 7, 2018
    OPTN/UNOS Board members named
    Members of the national organ donation and transplantation community have elected 25 members to the OPTN/UNOS board of directors, including a new president, vice-president/president-elect, vice president for patient and donor affairs and secretary.

  • Wednesday, February 28, 2018
    OPTN/UNOS summit to address OPO, transplant center, system metrics
    The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors is launching a new effort to study and develop metrics that organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and transplant centers can use for improvement.

  • Wednesday, February 28, 2018
    Histocompatibility General Supervisor Key Personnel Requirement
    The requirements for notification of changes to key personnel and submission of a key personnel change application in OPTN Bylaws, Appendix C.5 Changes in Key Laboratory Personnel will apply to General Supervisors.

  • Wednesday, February 28, 2018
    Learn how programs are performing non-A1, non-A1B transplants
    Educational resource supplements guidance document

View all news articles

Resources for professionals

Kidney allocation system materials

Access educational materials, calculators and more.

Compliance guidance

The OPTN Evaluation Plan is a compliance guide for member hospitals, OPOs and labs.

Patient safety resources

Patients are the focus of all the OPTN's collective efforts.

Resources for patients

How policies are made

Here's a brief look at how an idea transforms from proposal to transplant policy.

About organ donation

The donation process begins with a decision.

How organ allocation works

We must allocate each precious organ in the most equitable manner possible.

Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network

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