The OPTN already has implemented a series of policy changes to align with the 2020 U.S. Public Health Service Guideline for assessing solid organ donors and monitoring transplant recipients for HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV). Additional elements of the policy change implemented on June 1, 2021, are:
- requiring living donor recovery hospitals to store specimens for ten years
- adding required disclosure to existing living donor informed consent policy for specimen storage
Please see the January pre-implementation notice for an overview of the changes. Additional information below addresses resources available to members.
Resource toolkit
A resource toolkit is available here on the OPTN website. It houses summary information about what members need to do and contains a number of resource and reference materials. We will continue to update it with additional information as it becomes available.
Webinar recording available
A recording of the informational webinar held February 24 is available in UNOS Connect. It is posted in the Patient Safety section and entitled SFT129: Align OPTN Policy with 2020 PHS: Implementation.
Additional education and resources
- A frequently asked questions document is available and will continue to be updated to address additional topics, including input from the February 24 webinar.
- A lab testing FAQ is available, which includes timeframes for each of the collection and storage requirements
- A preview is available of changes to the OPTN Evaluation Plan that will result from the newly added and updated policies.
- Two educational offerings are available on UNOS Connect:
- SFT127: PHS Guidelines in OPTN Policy
- SFT128: Talking About Risk Criteria for Disease Transmission
- OPTN policy notice: Align OPTN Policy with US Public Health Service Guideline, 2020
- Crosswalk between 2013 and 2020 PHS Guideline and OPTN policies
