how do they determine if you can donate a kidney?

What are the pros and cons of donating a kidney?

The first thing they’ll do is check your blood. This is especially important in a directed donation to make sure your kidney is a match for the person who will receive it. There are three main...

What are the dangers of donating a kidney?

You will be given a physical examination to make sure you are healthy enough to donate a kidney. Chest X-ray and electrocardiogram (EKG). These tests are done to check for heart or lung disease. Radiological testing. These tests allow physicians to look at your kidney, including its blood vessel supply. Urine testing.

How much does it cost to donate a kidney?

Blood tests to screen for transmissible disease: These tests determine whether you have HIV, hepatitis, cancer, and other transmissible diseases. 2. Urine Tests: A 24-hour urine sample is collected to examine your kidney function. 3. Chest X-Ray and Electrocardiogram (EKG): These tests screen for heart and lung disease. Depending upon your age and medical history, further …

What are the requirements for donating a kidney?

If, at any point in the process, the potential donor does not want to donate, the transplant team can help the donor decline in a way that preserves the family relationships. Urine Samplesare taken to: Screen for kidney disease or any abnormalities. To determine the absence or presence of a urinary tract infection.

How do you test if you can donate a kidney?

There are three main blood tests to check for compatibility between donor and recipient:Blood type test. This makes sure your blood type and the recipient's blood type are a good match.Crossmatch test. Doctors mix a sample of your blood with a sample of the recipient's to see how they react. ... HLA typing.Nov 19, 2020

What disqualifies a kidney donor?

As a general rule, you should be 18 years or older . You must also have normal kidney function . There are some medical conditions that could prevent you from being a living donor . These include having uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, or acute infections .

What are the odds of being a kidney donor match?

Siblings have a 25% chance of being an "exact match" for a living donor and a 50% chance of being a "half-match." Donor compatibility is established through blood tests that look for matching blood types and antigens. The overall health of the potential donor is also of critical importance.

Why you should not donate a kidney?

Long-Term/Medical Risks Other complications that may occur in the long-term following surgery to donate a kidney include: Developing a disease that could affect the function of the remaining kidney such as: Diabetes. High blood pressure.

Can anyone donate a kidney to anyone else?

Who Can I Give My Kidney To? You can donate a kidney to a family member or friend who needs one. You can also give it to someone you don't know. Doctors call this a “nondirected” donation, in which case you might decide to meet the person you donate to, or choose to stay anonymous.Dec 7, 2020

What is a perfect kidney match?

To receive a kidney where recipient's markers and the donor's markers all are the same is a "perfect match" kidney. Perfect match transplants have the best chance of working for many years. Most perfect match kidney transplants come from siblings.

Can a female donate kidney to male?

Conclusions. Our results suggested gender matching for kidney transplant. Only in some exceptional conditions, male donor to female recipient kidney transplant may be successful and female donors to male recipients are not suggested, especially in aged patients with the history of dialysis.Jan 6, 2020

Who is the best match for a kidney transplant?

The best match for the recipient is to have 12 out of s12antigen match. (This is known as a zero mismatch.) It is possible for all 12 markers to match, even with an unrelated deceased donor organ, if the patient has a very common HLA type.

What tests are done to check kidney function?

Radiological testing. These tests allow physicians to look at your kidney, including its blood vessel supply. Urine testing. A 24-hour urine sample is collected to make sure you have good kidney function.If it is found that your kidney function is low, they will most likely advise against donation.

Why is the kidney evaluation process important?

The evaluation process is meant to protect you. It ensures that you are healthy enough to donate a kidney. While there are inherent risks of living donation and with any surgery, the rigorous evaluation process provides a systematic way of determining any specific, known risks to you.

What is a living donor advocate?

A living donor advocate will be an important member of your healthcare team who you can feel free to discuss any concerns or hesitations you may have. All conversations between the living donor and the transplant team and the results of medical testing will be kept confidential. If at any point in the evaluation process you decide ...

What is a compatibility test?

Compatibility Tests. A blood sample will be taken to check for compatibility between you and the recipient. This includes: Blood typing. Your blood type will be checked to see if it is compatible with the recipient. Tissue typing.

What is a crossmatch test?

This blood test checks the tissue match between your white blood cells and the recipient’s white blood cells. Crossmatching. In this test, blood cells from the donor and recipient are mixed. If the recipient’s cells attack and destroy the donor cells, the crossmatch is positive.

What is the final decision for a living donor?

The final decision to proceed will be a group decision among you, your recipient, and the transplant team.

What is paired exchange?

A paired exchange involves two pairs of living donors and their recipients. The two recipients “swap” donors so that each receives a kidney from a compatible donor. If this is an option for you, your transplant team will coordinate the entire process, including finding the matching pair.

What is creatinine clearance?

An increased secretion of protein would need to be evaluated before resuming the evaluation; the creatinine clearance is to determine adequate kidney function and to ensure that collection is an adequate one. Female donor candidates may undergo a gynecological exam and mammography.

What is the purpose of an EKG?

Screen for the HIV virus. An EKG will be performed to assess heart function. A chest x-ray will be used to assess the lungs for the presence of any abnormalities. A psychological evaluation will be used to: Provide emotional support and information to the donor. Assess the donor's motivation.

What is a medical history review?

A medical history review and physical examination. An extensive review of all systems, including previous illnesses and surgeries and past family medical history. Any abnormalities found are investigated further before invasive tests are performed. A financial consultation will be used to determine financial and insurance coverage for ...

What is a financial consultation?

A financial consultation will be used to determine financial and insurance coverage for the testing process and the donation itself. Generally, if the donation is to a family member or friend, the recipient's insurance will pay for testing and surgery expenses. However, the donor might be responsible for travel expenses ...

What is an antigen?

An antigen is a genetic marker. Genetic markers are unique to your body. You may hear these called HLA, or human leukocyte antigens. The process of identifying these antigens is called tissue typing. The leukocytes, or white cells, in your blood carry these antigens and are used to identify them.

What is a helical CT scan?

The helical CT scan is used to evaluate the internal structure of the kidney and look for the presence of cysts, tumors, etc. Some transplant centers will perform a renal arteriogram if there is a question of an abnormal finding on the Helical CT Scan.

What is the most common blood type?

The most common blood type in the population is type O. The next most common is blood type A, then B, and the rarest is blood type AB. The blood type of the donor must be compatible with the recipient. The rules for blood type in transplantation are the same as they are for blood transfusion. Some blood types can give to others and some may not.

How many antigens are there in the body?

Antigens are proteins on the cells in the body. Out of over 100 different antigens that have been identified, there are six that have been shown to be the most important in organ transplantation. Of these six antigens, we inherit three from each parent.

Can you give blood to someone with blood type O?

Some blood types can give to others and some may not. Blood type O is considered the universal donor. People with blood type O can give to any other blood type .

Who Can I Give My Kidney To?

You can donate a kidney to a family member or friend who needs one. You can also give it to someone you don't know. Doctors call this a “nondirected” donation, in which case you might decide to meet the person you donate to, or choose to stay anonymous. Either way, doctors will give your kidney to the person who needs it most and is the best match.

Am I Healthy Enough to Donate a Kidney?

Your doctor will do some tests to find out for sure. They’ll check your blood and urine, and may also do an ultrasound or take X-rays of your kidneys. You may not be able to donate if you have medical issues like diabetes or high blood pressure.

What Happens After Surgery?

Your doctor will prescribe medications to help manage your pain. They’ll also want you to get up and start moving around shortly afterward.

How Can I Donate?

If you want to give your kidney to a friend or family member, talk to the doctor at the transplant center. You'll start taking tests to see if you're a match.

How to remove kidneys?

There are two different surgeries your doctor may perform to remove your kidney: an open incision removal and a laparoscopic procedure. The laparoscopic procedure is much less invasive, which means there are fewer risks involved and the recovery time is shorter.

Why is it important to have regular checkups?

The purpose of this is to make sure you are healing properly, so be sure to go to all scheduled appointments. It is also important to continue getting regular medical checkups throughout your life. Your doctor may want to monitor your kidney function to make sure your remaining kidney is functioning properly.

Can you have only one kidney?

While your body is perfectly capable of functioning normally with only one kidney, you will be at a disadvantage should your remaining kidney fail. If you end up needing a kidney transplant, you will be given preference as a prior donor.

Does insurance cover kidney transplant?

Most of the time, your medical expenses will be covered by either the recipient’s insurance or by the transplant center if you choose to donate a kidney. Make sure to find out if you will be responsible for any costs. Also, keep in mind that the surgery may have many hidden costs that are not covered.

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Can you donate a kidney to a stranger?

You also have the option of donating to a stranger or participating in a paired exchange donation, which means you will donate your kidney to a stranger on the condition that a compatible stranger also donates a kidney to your loved one.

How old do you have to be to be a living kidney donor?

If you’d like to be a living kidney donor, are healthy, and are between the ages of 18–69, contact a member of our living kidney donor team. Remember, living kidney donation saves lives.

How long after donating a kidney can you get pregnant?

Still, women should wait one year after donating a kidney before they get pregnant. This gives your body plenty of time to heal. 9. You can talk to someone who's donated before. Our living kidney donor program can help you speak with someone from our program who has donated a kidney.

Is it safe to donate a kidney?

Living kidney donation is safe. If you are healthy, donating a kidney won’t make you more likely to get sick or have major health problems. Like any surgery, the procedure does have some risks. But overall, living kidney donation is safe. In most cases, donating a kidney will not not raise your risk of kidney disease, diabetes, ...

What happens after donating blood?

After donating, your remaining kidney will take on the work of both kidneys. 5. Your blood and tissue type must be compatible with your recipient’s. Besides being healthy, living donors must have compatible blood and tissue types with the kidney recipient.

How long do you have to stay in the hospital after kidney transplant?

Your hospital stay will be short and you can get back to work fairly quickly. Most living kidney donors stay in the hospital for five to 10 days. Depending on what you do for work, you can return to work as soon as two weeks or as late as eight weeks after your surgery.

Can you donate kidneys to someone?

3. You don’t have to be related to someone to donate a kidney to them. In fact, one in four living organ donors is not biologically related to the recipient (the person who receives a donated organ).

What tests are needed for a transplant?

Some tests you will have include: blood tests, urine tests, imaging exams, and. cancer screenings.

How many kidneys were transplanted in 2016?

And in 2016, nearly 30 percent of the more than 19,000 kidneys transplanted in the U.S. came from living kidney donors such as Raisa – people with two healthy kidneys who voluntarily have one removed to transplant in someone whose kidneys have failed.

Why did Selena Gomez get a kidney transplant?

Pop singer Selena Gomez revealed personal news in mid-September 2017 that shocked her fans: The 25-year-old had recently received a kidney transplant due to complications of lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. And the donor?

Can anyone donate a kidney?

But not just anyone can donate a kidney. Stringent screening is required, and potential donors often have a lot of questions about their eligibility and how donation will affect their health in the future. Let’s go through some of the frequently asked questions, as well as risk factors and benefits of living kidney donation.

Is it safe to donate a kidney?

And living kidney donation is incredibly safe for donors – fewer than 1 percent of donors will wind up on dialysis themselves in the future, which is only slightly higher than the average risk of an individual with two healthy kidneys. But not just anyone can donate a kidney.