Patient safety guidance documents updated

Published on: Friday, March 8, 2024

Effective Feb. 20, 2024, three resource documents related to donor screening and patient safety have been updated and re-published on the OPTN website:

• Pathogens of Special Interest
• Summary of Current Evidence and Information – Mpox in Donor Screening and Transplantation
• Summary of Current Evidence and Information– Donor SARS-CoV-2 Testing & Organ Recovery from Donors with a History of COVID-19

The OPTN ad hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee created these documents and continues to update them on a regular basis to ensure the information and recommendations reflect the latest clinical findings.

Appropriate staff at organ procurement organizations and transplant programs should become familiar with the documents. While they are intended as guidance and are not OPTN policy or bylaw requirements, the recommendations may affect clinical decisions or protocols regarding evaluation of potential deceased or living donors, as well as management of transplant recipients known or suspected to be at risk of donor disease transmission.