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Kidney donor

Also called: donor

A kidney donor could be a parent, child, sibling, relative, or friend. The main qualification is that the kidney donor is healthy, willing, and at least 18 years old. Also, kidney donors must be free of cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and high blood pressure. Kidney donors do not have to have the same blood type as the person they are donating to. However, they will go through a testing process during which their blood type and compatibility will be studied and discussed.

Kidney donors can lead normal, active lives with only one kidney, and death from kidney donation is a very rare occurrence. Donating one of your kidneys does not increase your chances for kidney failure and has not been shown to increase your risk for future health problems.

Articles

• All about CKD: Getting a kidney transplant

Articles and portals

• Kidney transplant – National Kidney Foundation
• Living Kidney Donor Frequently Asked Questions – University of Maryland Medical Center

Journals

• Article: Paying for kidney donors

Organizations

• The Kidney Transplant/Dialysis Association, Inc.
• Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals
• Living Donors Online