Matching organs. Saving lives.
Our mission is to advance organ availability and transplantation to support patients through education, technology and policy development.
How organ matching works
When a patient is “added to the list,” a transplant hospital adds a patient’s medical information into UNOS’ computer system. When a deceased organ donor is identified, UNOS’ computer system generates a ranked list of transplant candidates, or “matches”, based on blood type, tissue type, medical urgency, waiting time, expected benefit, geography and other medical criteria.
Facts
- You can be a donor at any age.
- Celebrity or financial status are not factors in getting a transplant.
- Donation is possible with many medical conditions.
- All major religions approve of organ and tissue donation.
- A national computer system and strict standards are in place to ensure ethical and fair distribution of organs.
- A healthy person can become a living donor by donating a kidney, or a part of the liver, lung, intestine, blood or bone marrow.
- Learn more organ donation facts.
Patients
Professionals
News
Download the 2019 scorecard for HRSA’s WPFL campaign
The 2019 Hospital Campaign scorecard for all participants is now online. Download it today.
Special public comment period addresses liver distribution
From October 8 through November 1, the OPTN/UNOS Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee seeks public comment on a proposal to replace donor service areas (DSAs) and regions in distribution policies for livers and intestinal organs.
WPFL recognizes transplant centers for organ donation awareness efforts
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) Hospital Organ Donation Campaign recently recognized more than 1,200 hospitals and transplant centers, including 314 small and rural hospitals, for their efforts to promote organ...