U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Board actions
Updated liver distribution system approved. Distribution zones (circles) will replace donation service area (DSA) and regions.
Pediatric transitions
Guidance shares effective practices on transfer to adult program.
At a Glance
people need a lifesaving organ transplant (total waiting list candidates). Of those, 75,012 people are active waiting list candidates. Totals as of today 6:30am
organ transplants performed so far in 2017
Total Transplants January - October 2018
as of 12/06/2018
donors
Total Donors January - October 2018
as of 12/06/2018
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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Tuesday, December 4, 2018
OPTN/UNOS Board approves updated liver distribution system
Will reduce geographic disparity, create consistent geographic areas -
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Liver distribution proposal advances for board consideration
The proposal would replace fixed, irregular local and regional geographic boundaries historically used to match liver candidates based on the donor location. -
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.
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.