Is there any donor screening process for tissue transplants?
In the best of circumstances, yes; donor eligibility is determined through donor screening and donor testing. Donor screening involves reviewing all relevant medical records, physically assessing the donor and questioning the donor's next-of-kin to determine risk factors or clinical evidence of infectious or communicable diseases. Donor testing involves testing samples of the donor's blood taken pre- or post-mortem. Relevant communicable diseases for which the donor is tested are HIV-1 and 2, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis. A donor is determined eligible to donate tissues only if the results of donor screening and donor testing indicate freedom from communicable diseases or communicable disease risks.
