Lead author: Stephanie Pouch
Co-authors: Wanessa Trrindade Clemente, Marcelo Radisic
Review and editing: Ban Hock Tan
Council’s note: In this update, we focus primarily on the question of donors and recipients who are having or have recently had COVID-19. The previous updates are considered archived.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on donor evaluation and organ procurement.1 As the virus entrenches itself, the risk of donor-derived infection must be balanced with the risk of morbidity and mortality while remaining on the transplant waitlist. Decisions to proceed with organ transplant locally must balance the existing capacity of the center, availability of testing for donors and candidates, and sufficient capacity to provide adequate occupational protection to recovery and transplant staff.2
The recommendations in this document are based upon current peer-reviewed literature and public health data and represent a consensus opinion from TID Council, all of whom are practicing clinicians. Given that knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, the recommendations contained in this document are subject to change. Additionally, the authors recognize that access to diagnostic assays may vary globally, particularly in resource-limited settings, and local approaches to donor evaluation may need to be adopted accordingly.
Term or Abbreviation | Definition |
---|---|
Asymptomatic COVID-19 infection | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on an antigen or nucleic acid test without current or previous symptoms |
BAL | Bronchoalveolar lavage |
Ct | Cycle threshold |
Date of disease onset | Date of onset of COVID-19 symptoms OR date of SARS-CoV-2 test positivity |
Fully vaccinated | Completion of the primary vaccine series plus a booster |
LRT | Lower respiratory tract sample |
NAT | Nucleic acid test |
NP | Nasopharynx |
OP | Oropharynx |
POC | Point of care |
RAT | Rapid antigen test |
Resolved COVID-19 | History of confirmed COVID19 at least 21 days prior and with resolution of symptoms |
RNA | Ribonucleic acid |
RT-PCR | Real-time polymerase chain reaction |
URT | Upper respiratory tract sample |