The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) oversees organ donations in the US, administering the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Patients are listed on UNOS and matched with suitable donors based on factors such as blood type and proximity. Living organ donations and family-directed donations are also possible. UNOS is only able to meet a fraction of the need for organs, so individuals can help by registering as organ donors.
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is an American organization that oversees organ donations in the United States. Using a single organization to track organ transplants simplifies the process and creates a unified national list that keeps transplantation fair for all patients in the United States. UNOS also administers the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), a national network established by the US government. Organ procurement and transplant centers must join the OPTN to receive federal assistance such as Medicare.
In 1968, the Southeast Organ Procurement Foundation was established to begin coordinating organ donation; in 1977, the group created UNOS, an organ matching system and rubric that was designed to create a unified patient scale, along with a roster, to ensure that patients most in need get organs first. In 1984, UNOS separated from its parent organization and became a separate entity, being awarded the OPTN contract in 1986.
When a doctor determines that his or her patient needs an organ transplant, the doctor takes the patient’s case to the hospital’s transplant committee, which determines whether or not the patient is eligible for a UNOS listing. By being listed in UNOS, the patient is eligible for organs that become available anywhere in the United States. When the patient is listed, data such as their blood type and medical history is entered, along with a score indicating need.
A number of factors are considered in organ matching. Blood type is an obvious concern, as is proximity; some organs don’t travel well, so while someone may have a demonstrated need, it may be too far away for transplant to be feasible. A complex computer system is used to find UNOS matches to keep things as fair as possible. When UNOS finds a suitable donor, the responsible hospital is notified of the patient with the highest score for the organ in question. The hospital can either accept the organ or reject it and let it go to the next person on the list.
Patients can also bypass the UNOS system for living organ donation. For example, a friend of a liver transplant patient might agree to donate part of their liver to the patient. This private arrangement is not regulated by UNOS, as the donor makes a personal choice. Families of deceased donors can also divert organs to specific recipients.
Typically, about 100,000 Americans are waiting for organs at any given time. UNOS is only able to meet a fraction of the need, although this lean national system certainly ensures that the maximum number of needy patients receive organs. Individuals can help fill the gap by registering as organ donors and indicating their wish to their families.
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