United Network for Organ Sharing FAQs

Is UNOS a government agency?

No. UNOS is a nonprofit organization on a mission to save and transform lives through research, innovation and collaboration. UNOS works to strengthen organ donation and transplantation systems and enhance public health worldwide by developing new initiatives, conducting data-driven research and analysis, providing expert consulting services, and advocating for reforms to help patients. For more than 40 years, UNOS has helped manage the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. Learn more about how UNOS is working towards its vision of a world where health has no boundaries.

What is the OPTN? 

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network is the name of the donation and transplant system in the United States. It’s a unique public-private partnership that links all professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system. The OPTN brings together medical professionals, transplant recipients, donor families, and representatives from transplant associations to develop organ transplantation policy. As an OPTN contractor, UNOS helps manage the OPTN under contract with the federal government.

Does UNOS decide who gets on the waiting list for an organ transplant?

No. Only a transplant hospital can determine if a patient is added to or removed from the national transplant waiting list. In its role as an OPTN contractor, UNOS manages the national waiting list of patients who have been listed for organ transplant by a transplant hospital.

Does UNOS decide who gets priority for an organ transplant?

No. Organ donation and transplant policies are developed by the OPTN. In its role as an OPTN contractor, UNOS ensures that deceased donor organs are matched with transplant candidates according to OPTN policy.

How does UNOS manage the national transplant waiting list and match donor organs to patients?

To support its role as an OPTN contractor, UNOS has developed a robust suite of secure, proprietary tools to manage the national transplant waiting list and to match donor organs to patients, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Learn how UNOS technology securely and efficiently matches donor organs to recipients.
• Learn how UNOS ensures IT system security.
• Learn how UNOS research solutions, technology tools, and health innovations serve the donation and transplant and broader public health communities.