Richmond, Va. – The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors, at its meeting June 6 and 7, approved a policy intended to enhance accuracy and efficiency of transplants by requiring all organ procurement organizations (OPOs) to use TransNetSM for deceased donor organ labeling and packaging.
“Improving the labeling process will benefit all transplant candidates,” said OPTN/UNOS President Betsy Walsh, J.D., M.P.H. “We have responsibility to optimize our systems and processes. This is one step in our continuous improvement journey.”
TransNet is a service of the OPTN. It uses barcode scanning technology at the point of organ recovery to help label, package and track organs and other biologic materials being shipped for transplantation. During organ recovery, as part of a consistent process, OPO procurement coordinators use the system in the operating room to print on-demand labels and scan information on all organs and materials to be transplanted.
Development of TransNet was funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) after being chosen by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be part of the HHS Entrepreneurs Program. Currently, 46 of the 58 OPOs have been trained to use TransNet on a voluntary basis.
In separate action, the Board approved a proposal establishing clear and consistent allocation rules and specific medical eligibility criteria for candidates seeking simultaneous liver and kidney (SLK) transplants. This proposal also establishes some priority on the kidney transplant list for liver recipients with continued reliance on dialysis or kidney dysfunction in the first year after receiving a liver transplant.
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is operated under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Transplantation, by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The OPTN brings together medical professionals, transplant recipients and donor families to develop national organ transplantation policy.
