This is one of the most important questions in the kidney transplant process. Having a donor will greatly improve the entire transplant experience of the recipient. If you are currently on the wait-list, we strongly encourage you to ask your family or friends to make the life-saving decision to donate.
Who can Donate?
The ideal donor would fulfill all of the following criteria:
There are some circumstances that may require the donor to go through additional screenings to determine if they’re good candidates for donation or not.
Certain circumstances would render the donor ineligible to donate:
Benefits of Having a Donor
Average Time Spent before Receiving Kidney Transplant
It is hard to determine with precision how long people have to wait for a deceased donor kidney. In New England, the wait time averages 3.3 years, yet it is not uncommon for patients to be on the wait-list for up to 5 years. Having a living donor could reduce this time to about 6 months.
U.S. Graft Survival Rates after Transplantation (in Years)
Studies have demonstrated that graft survival rates are higher for patients who receive a kidney before needing to go on dialysis. This is known as a pre-emptive transplant. Given that wait-times are much shorter with a living donor, it is easier to receive a pre-emptive transplant if you have a living donor.
U.S. Kidney Graft Survival Rates After 1 Year
Statistically speaking, the 1-year survival rates for kidney grafts are higher for people who receive it through a living donor. This happens because kidneys from deceased donors may spend several hours without blood supply while being rushed between hospitals. This inevitable tissue damage can be mitigated by having a living donor, who will be in an adjacent operating room during the surgery. New medical discoveries have improved kidney graft survival rates in recent years.
Cost of Kidney Treatment in 1,000's of USD.
A 2011 Boston College study revealed that receiving a living donor kidney has a higher up-front cost, but pays for itself after the second year when compared to patients who have to pay for dialysis. Patients who have to wait for a deceased donor kidney may need to pay for dialysis until a kidney is found. Talk to our financial coordinator to determine which costs will be covered by your insurance policy.
