CPRA scores are changing
In June 2022, the OPTN Board of Directors approved a new formula for Calculated Panel Reactive Antibody (CPRA). The revised calculation goes into effect in January 2023 and may impact the scores of some patients waiting for a kidney or pancreas transplant.
We’ve put together some frequently asked questions to help patients wondering about the upcoming change.
What is a CPRA score?
A Calculated Panel Reactive Antibody (CPRA) score estimates the percentage of donors whose organs you would be incompatible with. Patients with high CPRA scores have fewer potentially compatible donors, and receive priority when a compatible organ becomes available. Patients with low CPRA scores are likely to be compatible with a larger number of donors.
What will this policy change about the way CPRA scores are calculated?
CPRA scores are determined by measuring the antibodies present in your system, and comparing them to data from tens of thousands of donors. This policy change introduces a donor data set more than 100 times larger than used previously. It also introduces a new formula that uses more information about the antibodies in your system. These changes are intended to more completely and accurately predict the percentage of donors that a candidate may be incompatible with, and increase access to transplant for people who may not have many compatible donors.
Will my CPRA score change?
Talk with your transplant team to learn more about your CPRA score, how it could change and how this could affect your position on the waitlist.
