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Donor tests

What a living donor is assessed on, organ by organ.

Kidney Liver Lung Heart

Fitness Assessment 1

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
Anaesthetic fitness assessment Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory

Blood Tests 4

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
Blood group and typing Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory
Complete blood count Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory
Kidney function tests (urea, creatinine, eGFR) Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory
Liver function tests Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory

Imaging 3

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
Chest X-ray Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory
Ultrasound abdomen Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory
CT angiography of donor kidneys Donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory

Legal Documentation 1

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
Donor–recipient relationship documentation Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory

Cardiac Evaluation 1

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
ECG Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory

Infection Screening 3

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
Hepatitis B and C serology Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory
HIV serology Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory
Tuberculosis screening Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory

HLA Typing 1

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
HLA typing (donor and recipient) Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory

Final Approval 1

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
Hospital Authorisation Committee approval Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory

Crossmatch 1

Test / step Applies to Typical timing Required
Lymphocyte crossmatch Recipient & donor Before Authorisation Committee review Mandatory
Every transplant centre sets its own donor protocol. Treat this as a guide to what to expect, not as a substitute for the centre's own evaluation.

Thinking about donating?

Speak to a donor counsellor before you start the evaluation.

Request Donor Counselling