Mid-America Transplant Services

UNOS is a non-profit, voluntary organization incorporated in 1984, which has been designated as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). The organ allocation system, developed by UNOS, is designed to identify the best possible recipient for each donated organ. When a donor is identified, donor information is entered into the computer, which then provides a list of suitable candidates for transplant based on specific criteria. Criteria generally includes blood group, size match, degree of sensitization, medical status based on current condition of the patient, and geographic location (for extra renal recipients). Located in Richmond, Virginia, UNOS has an organ center which serves as the computerized network to provide instantaneous information that links transplant centers, histocompatibility laboratories, and OPO's seeking to place organs for transplantation and analyze data.

In 1987 UNOS successfully implemented nationwide polices on organ allocation, equitable access to organs, and aspects of safety in organ procurement. These policies established standard designed to prevent transmission of infectious diseases through transplanted organs. Standards of excellence in the delivery of care became part of the UNOS mission. Other significant changes and enhancements in 1987 were to renal and extra renal allocation. The two most significant are:

the adoption of a point system to determine the order in which recipients will be matched with donor organs (points based on several of the above stated criteria including time waiting)
ABO type 0 kidneys are only transplanted into ABO type 0 recipients. All zero antigen mismatched kidneys (perfect matches) must be offered for transplant to the perfectly matched recipient, which often requires that organs are shared throughout the United States. That may mean obtaining organs in one area and shipping them to another center for transplantation for a recipient who is the best match with that donated organ. This perfect match system only applies to kidney distribution.

The UNOS Board of Directors is composed of health care professionals, representatives of voluntary health organizations, transplant recipients, donor families, lawyers, ethicists, theologians, health care financing representatives, and physicians. The UNOS Board is served by several standing committees that study and resolve important issues related to the operation of the OPTN.

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