What Can Be Donated
Organs
The organs of the body that can be transplanted at the current
time are kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the intestines.
Kidney/pancreas transplants, heart/lung transplants, and other combined
organ transplants also are performed. Organs cannot be stored and
must be used within hours of removing them from the donor's body.
Most donated organs are from people who have died, but a living
individual can donate a kidney, part of the pancreas, part of a
lung, part of the liver, or part of the intestine.
Local organ procurement
organizations (OPOs) around the country coordinate organ donation.
OPOs evaluate potential donors, discuss donation with surviving
family members, and arrange for the surgical removal and transport
of donated organs. A national computer network, the OPTN (Organ
Procurement and Transplantation Network) matches donated organs
with recipients throughout the country.
Tissue
Corneas, the middle ear, skin, heart valves, bone, veins, cartilage,
tendons, and ligaments can be stored in tissue banks and used to
restore sight, cover burns, repair hearts, replace veins, and mend
damaged connective tissue and cartilage in recipients.
Stem Cells
Healthy adults between the ages of 18-60 can donate blood stem
cells. In order for a blood stem cell transplant to be successful,
the patient and the blood stem cell donor must have a closely matched
tissue type or human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Since tissue types
are inherited, patients are more likely to find a matched donor
within their own racial and ethnic group. There are three sources
of blood stem cells that healthy volunteers can donate:
Marrow-This soft tissue is found
in the interior cavities of bones and is a major site of blood
cell production and is removed to obtain stem cells
Peripheral blood stem cells-The
same types of stem cells found in marrow can be pushed out into
a donor's bloodstream after the donor receives daily injections
of a medication called filgrastim. This medication increases the
number of stem cells circulating in the blood and provides a source
of donor stem cells that can be collected in a way that is similar
to blood donation.
Cord blood stem cells-The umbilical
cord that connects a newborn to the mother during pregnancy contains
blood and this blood has been shown to contain high levels of
blood stem cells. Cord blood can be collected and stored in large
freezers for a long period of time and therefore, offers another
source of stem cells available for transplanting into patients.
Blood and Platelets
Blood and platelets are formed by the body, go through a life cycle,
and are continuously replaced throughout life. This means that you
can donate blood and platelets more than once. It is safe to donate
blood every 56 days and platelets twice in one week up to 24 times
a year.
Blood is stored in a blood bank according to type (A, B, AB, or
O) and Rh factor (positive or negative). Blood can be used whole,
or separated into packed red cells, plasma, and platelets, all of
which have different lifesaving uses. It takes only about 10 minutes
to collect a unit (one pint) of blood, although the testing and
screening process means that you will be at the donation center
close to an hour.
Platelets are tiny cell fragments that circulate throughout the
blood and aid in blood clotting. Platelets can be donated without
donating blood. When a specific patient needs platelets, but does
not need blood, a matching donor is found and platelets are separated
from the rest of the blood which is returned to the donor. The donor's
body will replace the missing platelets within a few hours.
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