Being a Living Donor

Donor Qualifications

While many people are willing to be living donors, not everyone has the qualities necessary to participate in living donation. Donors must be chosen carefully in order to avoid outcomes that are medically and psychologically unsatisfactory.

At a minimum, all potential donors must be genuinely willing to donate, physically fit, in good general health; and free from high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and heart disease. Donors must have a blood type compatible with the intended recipient.

Beyond these basic requirements, a representative from the transplant center will meet with the potential living donor to discuss the donor’s individual circumstances and conduct routine tests to determine the potential donor's level of physical and mental health, and compatibility with the patient awaiting a transplant. Transplant centers must also implement a written living donor informed consent process that informs the prospective living donor of all aspects of and potential outcomes from living donation.

Individuals considered for living donation are usually between 18-60 years of age. Gender and race are not factors in determining a successful match.

Reference and Publication Information

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. The content on this page was originally created on February 25, 2005 by the UNOS and last modified on June 22, 2011.

This web site is intended solely for the purpose of electronically providing the public with general health-related information and convenient access to the data resources. UNOS is not affiliated with any one product nor does UNOS assume responsibility for any error, omissions or other discrepancies.