What screening processes occur before organs are donated?
Before organ donation proceeds, potential organ donors are rigorously screened on a case by case basis by transplant clinicians to ensure that risks of infection, disease, complications or donated organs being in a sub-optimal state are minimised or eliminated. Where consent to organ donation is established, the donation process commences with the completion by a potential donor’s family of a comprehensive donor referral questionnaire, which covers the potential donor’s medical and other history, and assists nursing and medical staff collate information required to refer the patient on for organ donation. Following the completion of the donor referral questionnaire by a potential donor’s family, and consequent identification and minimisation or elimination of risk factors, a range of detailed clinical screening processes follow, consistent with State or Territory clinical guidelines, including physical examination, tissue and blood typing, virology, haematology and other testing. State
