U.S. Public Health Service Releases New Organ Transplant Guideline

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Over 110,000 patients need a lifesaving organ transplant. Today, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) released a new guideline to increase the use of available organs and enhance safety measures to protect transplant recipients from HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections.

Previously, organs may have been declined by patients or healthcare providers because of concerns about the potential for HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C transmission. However, due to advances in testing technology, the risk of patients getting one of these viruses because of a transplant is lower than ever.

Today’s PHS guideline recommends actions healthcare providers can take before and after transplant to minimize the risk of HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection in their patients. These steps include testing all organ donors and recipients for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus at specific times, using highly accurate tests. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for all transplant candidates.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with other federal partners, develops recommendations for organ donor testing and recipient monitoring. Based on the recommendations included in today’s guideline, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, regulated by the Health Resources and Services Administration, will develop policies for organ procurement organizations and transplant centers.