The living kidney donor evaluation process is essential to making the transplant process successful for you and the transplant recipient. During kidney donor evaluation, our Living Donor Kidney Transplant team assesses you for kidney donation. We decide as a team if your personal risks are acceptable and what we can do to minimize them. The evaluation also helps you learn about the donation process and makes sure it's right for you.
Kidney Donor Requirements and Qualifications
We evaluate donors on a case-by-case basis to determine if they fulfill the qualifications to donate a kidney. To be considered, you must be able to complete all the required testing and attend appointments in person or via telehealth.
Other criteria we use to determine kidney donation eligibility include:
- Age: You should be between 18 and 70.
- Health insurance: You must have health insurance. If you are uninsured, we can help you obtain coverage.
- Overall health: You must have normal kidney function. We also assess you to make sure you are in good physical and mental health. Some health conditions that might prevent you from becoming a kidney donor include active cancer, diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, obesity, or active infections such as HIV and hepatitis.
- Primary care provider: We encourage you to have a primary care provider who monitors your overall health. Routine medical care is important to protect your remaining kidney after donation.
- Support system: You will need help during your recovery. We work with you to identify those who can support you in your recovery plan.
Kidney Donor Referral and Evaluation: Step-By-Step
An in-depth evaluation offers the best possible outcome so you can donate and continue to live a healthy life. Referral and evaluation is a multi-step process:
Application and Pre-Screening
Our online donor screening form is the first step in donation. The form collects personal and family medical history. After you complete it, we email you orders for blood and urine testing that you can do at any laboratory.
Our nurse coordinator receives the lab results and contacts you to discuss the basics of donation. We then pass your information to the independent living donor advocate.
Independent Living Donor Advocate
The role of the Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA) is to make sure you understand your rights as a donor. The ILDA also assesses whether you are able to consent to kidney donation. Most importantly, the ILDA lets you know that you:
- Can opt out at any point
- Cannot be pressured into donation using financial, social or psychological factors
The ILDA is not part of the medical team but works collaboratively with them. As your advocate, the ILDA can step in at any time if you have any problems or concerns. You will meet with the ILDA several times.
Educational Video and Paperwork
After you meet with the ILDA, our team sends you an educational video. This is part of our effort to make sure you are fully informed about the kidney donation process and to prepare you for surgery and recovery.
After watching the video, we wait for you to let us know that you are ready to move forward with the evaluation.
Evaluation Meetings and Testing
Your Penn living donation team members are your champions before, during and after surgery. Your team consists of:
- Dietitian: Assesses whether your weight is healthy enough for surgery and assists if you need to lose weight.
- Financial coordinator: Helps prevent you from receiving medical bills associated with donation
- Independent living donor advocate: Discusses your donor rights, motivation for donating, taking time off work, financial risks, social support and follow-up care
- Nephrology specialist (physician or advanced practice provider): Completes a comprehensive medical exam and review all your medical information to assess your individual risk related to kidney donation
- Nurse coordinator: Collects your medical information, coordinates appointments and serves as your main point of contact
- Pharmacist: Reviews the medications you currently take and what you may need to temporarily stop before surgery
- Psychiatrist: Meets with you if the social worker identifies any mental health concerns
- Social worker: Discusses your mental health and social situation
- Surgeon: Explains the surgery and what to expect afterward, and performs the surgery
You meet with the nurse coordinator, independent living donor advocate, nephrologist and social worker, usually over a period of two days. You also complete more blood and urine tests as well as:
- CAT scan (CT scan), to assess your kidney health and detect a wide range of diseases and conditions, including cancer
- Chest X-ray, to look at your heart and lungs
- Electrocardiogram (EKG), to assess the condition of your heart
If the team needs more information, you may have additional appointments or testing.
After you complete the evaluation, the team meets to decide whether you are a suitable donor. The nurse coordinator calls you to let you know their decision.
How Long Does Kidney Donor Testing Take?
The entire process from meeting the kidney specialist to surgery takes an average of three months. Most patients tell us that the time it took for them was appropriate for their needs and situation.
To learn more about patients' experiences with living donation read our patient stories or watch the Penn Transplant Institute Education Session: The Living Donor Experience.
Kidney Donor Evaluation: The Penn Medicine Difference
If you choose to be a living kidney donor, you want an experienced team helping you through the process, from evaluation to surgery. When you work with the Penn Medicine Living Kidney Donor Program, you'll find:
- Deep experience: Our skilled, dedicated team leads the field of living kidney donation in the Northeast. We perform a high volume of living donor kidney transplants, which leads to better systems, processes and outcomes.
- Personalized care: Each donor has their own team that provides personalized care. Your team evaluates you individually and develops a care plan tailored to your unique needs.
- Convenient visits: Whenever possible, we offer virtual visits and in-person visits where you see more than one provider at a time. You can also complete many of your medical tests at a lab or imaging facility near you.
- Continuity of care: Our nurse coordinator is your central point of contact. If you have any problems, the nurse coordinator notifies the appropriate team member right away to get you the help you need. We offer easy options for communicating with us through our 24/7 direct number and the MyChart by myPennMedicine patient portal.
- One-on-one education: You spend time with each team member reviewing every aspect of donation. Our goal is to make sure you understand the process and feel comfortable with donation.
Mom Donates Kidney in Case Daughter Needs Transplant
Leigh Donadieu heard the words no parent wants to hear, "We are very sorry, but there is nothing that can be done to help your daughter." Leigh's daughter was in kidney failure. Fortunately, her daughter recovered, but Leigh decided to become a donor under the National Kidney Registry's advanced donation voucher program. Now Leigh has piece of mind and protection if her daughter ever needs a kidney. Read Leigh's story.
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