U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Voice your opinion
Provide your feedback for the special liver public comment.
Liver Allocation Modeling
View modeling results for alternative liver distribution system.
Training for heart policy changes
OPO and UNet system training available now.
At a Glance
people need a lifesaving organ transplant (total waiting list candidates). Of those, 75,005 people are active waiting list candidates. Totals as of today 9:16pm
organ transplants performed so far in 2017
Total Transplants January - September 2018
as of 10/17/2018
donors
Total Donors January - September 2018
as of 10/17/2018
Organ donation and transplantation can save lives
Every ten minutes, someone is added to the national transplant waiting list.
On average, 95 transplants take place each day in the U.S.
One organ donor can save eight lives. Sign up to be a donor in your state.
Transplants & donors
A total of 34,770 organ transplants were performed in 2017, marking the fifth consecutive record-setting year for transplants in the United States. Also in 2017, a record number of donor organs were recovered and transplants occurred for each of the four most common organs transplanted – kidney, liver, heart and lung. Read more.
Patients waiting
Advances in medicine and technology, and increased awareness of organ donation and transplantation have contributed to a record number of transplants. But, the gap between supply and demand continues. The OPTN is working to ensure that all transplant candidates have a better chance to receive the gift of life.
News
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Friday, October 12, 2018
Currently accepting nominations for open committee positions
If you are interested in any of these positions, submit a bio form by October 19, 2018. If you are interested in at-large positions, submit a bio form by November 30, 2018. -
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Applications coming soon regarding definition of transplant hospital
OPTN bylaw requirements updating the definition of a transplant hospital are expected to go into effect in December 2019. -
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Special public comment period addresses liver distribution
From October 8 through November 1, the OPTN/UNOS Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee seeks public comment on a proposal to replace donor service areas (DSAs) and regions in distribution policies for livers and intestinal organs. -
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
SRTR modeling results are available for liver distribution proposal
A special public comment period begins October 8. -
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
NLRB, liver distribution implementation postponed
The committee is working to replace the local donor service area (DSA) and region as specific units of distribution with an alternative geographic framework. As a result, neither the NLRB nor the previously approved liver distribution policy will be implemented in 2018 as originally scheduled.
Resources for professionals
Kidney allocation system materials
Access educational materials, calculators and more.
The OPTN Evaluation Plan is a compliance guide for member hospitals, OPOs and labs.
Patients are the focus of all the OPTN's collective efforts.
Resources for patients
Here's a brief look at how an idea transforms from proposal to transplant policy.
The donation process begins with a decision.
We must allocate each precious organ in the most equitable manner possible.