How does the living registry work?
NJ Sharing Network registers interested incompatible pairs in three different national registries which contains all the necessary medical information of donor/recipient pairs. Each registry runs a matching program at different intervals and then notifies the transplant center and NJ Sharing Network of the potential matches. The matches are then reviewed with the respective incompatible pairs and if accepted will move to the testing phase. When compatibility is confirmed all of the pairs will be notified and the transplant centers start working out the logistics of performing all of the surgeries. At times the donor from each pair that matches will travel to the recipient site, but more often the surgery to remove the kidney is done at the center where the recipient is listed and the kidney is transported. Our centers have participated in exchanges with as many as 6 different patients getting transplanted at one time from matching through these registries. The ability to bring together
