Require Lower Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 Testing for Lung Donors

At a glance

Current policy

On May 27, 2021, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) implemented an emergency policy to require nucleic acid testing (NAT) for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) on lower respiratory specimens for all lung donors prior to transplant. This emergency proposal is being submitted for retrospective public comment. The OPTN Board of Directors will vote on the proposal in December and decide if this policy should be made permanent. 

Supporting media

Presentation

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Proposed changes

• The policy change defines what a lower respiratory specimen is and requires all lung donors receive lower respiratory specimen testing by NAT.
• The policy specifies testing results must be available before the lungs are transplanted.

Anticipated impact

• What it's expected to do
  • Ensure organ procurement organizations (OPOs) perform testing on lower respiratory specimens for all potential deceased lung donors
  • Ensure testing results are available prior to lung transplantation
  • Promote patient safety and avoid COVID-19 transmission to lung recipients
• What it won't do
  • Require lower respiratory COVID-19 testing for non-lung donors
  • Specify what type of lower respiratory specimen OPOs must use for NAT testing
  • Require reprogramming in UNet^SM

Themes

• SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
• Respiratory testing
• Timing of test results
• Patient safety

Terms to know

• Lower Respiratory Specimen: A sample taken from the respiratory system within the trachea or below. Sputum, tracheal aspirate, bronchial suction, bronchial wash, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and lung biopsy are considered lower respiratory specimens.
• Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT): A test that uses genetic material to detect viruses and bacteria.

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