Organ Transplantation Rates Research Articles

A Bibliometric Analysis of Transplantation and Non-Pharmacology.

Organ transplant rates are increasing every year. A successful transplant is associated with many factors. Among these factors, non-pharmacological factors are noteworthy. In this study, a bibliometric and visual analyses were performed with the aim of investigating the relationship between transplant and non-pharmacological treatment in the published literature. The bibliometric analysis was conducted with Biblioshiny and VOSviewer. Visual analysis of countries/regions, institutions, authors, references cited, and keywords for 2010 to 2022 via Biblioshiny and VOSviewer were based on the Web of Science core database. Web of Science data showed meta-information of 616 published articles on transplantation and non-pharmacological treatment. Bradford law results showed that 209 articles published in 11 journals were in zone 1. Results showed that the United States produced the most publications on transplantation and non-pharmacological treatment. The authors Waterman (n = 281), Gordon (n = 254), and Mathur (n = 202) had the most total citations. The author Merli (2019) was cited the most. The most frequently used key words were "quality-of-life," "transplantation," "survival," "mortality," "physical activity," "performance," and "recipients." This article analyzed the status and trends of studies in transplantation and non-pharmacological methods through bibliometric analysis. Several studies showed that non-pharmacological studies have a positive effect on transplantation. The results of this research may provide researchers with useful information, such as research frontiers, potential collaborators, and cooperative institutions.

​​Labile Bodies​: A Hospital Ethnography of Medical Professionals’ Struggles in Deceased Organ Donation

This article presents an ethnographic study of the donor body in deceased organ donation. Drawing on the science and technology studies’ incitement to study bodies being enacted and acted upon in situated practices, I explore the body being done and becoming undone in the practices of organ procurement at a Catalan hospital. The hospital has uniquely high rates of organ donation and transplantation, and deceased organ donation has become routinised and integrated into everyday hospital activities. I attend ethnographically to the medical professionals’ accounts of and interactions with bodies and organs in their work dealing with both donors after brain death diagnosis and uncontrolled donors after circulatory death diagnosis. During fieldwork, I followed the struggles of the transplant coordination team grappling with unruly bodies under different maintenance technologies. The body being done in these hospital practices is an active and unstable materiality that must be contended with: a labile body, or a fragile assemblage of interdependent functions, requiring multiple interventions provided by a host of dedicated hospital practitioners. The article shows that staying close to the medical professionals’ situated accounts is a valuable route to gaining novel understandings of the donor body.

Moving Boundaries for Improving Organ Transplant Availability.

This brief overview is designed to address the options for increasing organ transplant rates to between 100 and 120 transplanted organs per million population globally. The focus of this review is the data produced through the World Health Organization's Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, with consideration for the issues that different countries need to address to achieve higher transplant rates. Without both optimized living donation and optimized deceased donation, rates of transplant are not sufficient to provide for a level of self-dependency for transplant therapy. Deceased donation comprises both donation from donors declared dead after cessation of all functions of the brain and donors declared dead from irreversible cessation of circulation of the blood. The preservation strategies that hold the greatest chance of increasing the utility of marginal and older donors involve normothermic circulation to prevent ischemic damage and potentially restore function of damaged organs. Normothermic in situ perfusion of abdominal organs has demonstrated utility, and consideration must be given to normothermic perfusion of the thoracic organs to improve heart and lung transplants, but this may challenge the legal definitions of death. Each nation must endeavor to increase organ donation capacity across the spectrum of donor types and must address the opportunities that normothermic perfusion of organs at retrieval may offer to alleviate shortages of organs for transplant and provide selfdependency for the communities.

Mesenchymal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles protect against oxidative stress-induced xenogeneic biological root injury via adaptive regulation of the PI3K/Akt/NRF2 pathway

Xenogeneic extracellular matrices (xECM) for cell support have emerged as a potential strategy for addressing the scarcity of donor matrices for allotransplantation. However, the poor survival rate or failure of xECM-based organ transplantation is due to the negative impacts of high-level oxidative stress and inflammation on seed cell viability and stemness. Herein, we constructed xenogeneic bioengineered tooth roots (bio-roots) and used extracellular vesicles from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASC-EVs) to shield bio-roots from oxidative damage. Pretreatment with hASC-EVs reduced cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial changes, and DNA damage. Furthermore, hASC-EV treatment improved cell proliferation, antioxidant capacity, and odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation, while significantly suppressing oxidative damage by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)-related factor 2 (NRF2) nuclear translocation via p62-associated Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) degradation. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt and Nrf2 knockdown reduced antioxidant capacity, indicating that the PI3K/Akt/NRF2 pathway partly mediates these effects. In subcutaneous grafting experiments using Sprague–Dawley rats, hASC-EV administration significantly enhanced the antioxidant effect of the bio-root, improved the regeneration efficiency of periodontal ligament-like tissue, and maximized xenograft function. Conclusively, therefore, hASC-EVs have the potential to be used as an immune modulator and antioxidant for treating oxidative stress-induced bio-root resorption and degradation, which may be utilized for the generation and restoration of other intricate tissues and organs.Graphic

Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Intentions of Critical Care Units Patients’ Families regarding Organ Donation

Up-to-date, no country in the world has enough donated organs. This study aimed to assess the levels and predictors of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of critical care unit patients’ families regarding organ donation. This is a cross-sectional study that used a questionnaire to collect data from 250 families having patients hospitalized in critical care units from three medical sectors in Jordan. Results revealed that 97.6% of the participants had heard about organ donation. Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs (3 types), and intentions levels were 67%, 49.6%, (14.9%, 77.1%, −12.9%), and 81.8%, respectively. Participants who were educated, employed, health insured, with higher income, and lived in urban areas had higher levels of knowledge. Participants who live in urban areas have favorable attitudes toward organ donation. Higher-educated females reported higher behavioral beliefs. Policymakers can design ways to deal with obstacles facing organ donation by taking into account these variables. Improving these factors will provide a huge social service to community health by increasing organ transplantation rates and improving the quality of life of chronic illnesses patients. Future interventional studies are needed in the world that focuses on improving community knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and intentions toward organs donation.

The Moral Implications of Organ Farming

Organ transplantation is now widely considered the preferred mode of organ replacement therapy for patients suffering from organ failure. The success rate of organ transplantation goes with organ shortages. This has led to thousands of patients dying on the organ waiting list. Some have argued that human-to-human organ donation is an ethical response to the problem of organ shortages but human-to-human organ donation has not done enough to close the gap between the demand and supply of human organs. Steps need to be taken to improve the organ donation pool. The paper suggests organ farming. Organ farming is the genetic cultivation of human organs for clinical transplantation. The moral implications of organ farming include the question of human dignity, organ farming as playing God, and the destruction of embryos. From the Utilitarian standpoint, if organ farming promises to be good for the greatest number of persons it should be permitted, while the unethical practice of organ farming is regulated by law.

Evaluation of Physician's Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding the Diagnosis of Brain Death in Deceased Organ Transplantation in Northern Cyprus.

Introduction Increasing deceased organ transplantation rates is an important strategy to overcome the organ shortage. Prior to the pandemic in Northern Cyprus, there were more transplants from deceased donors than from living donors. However, after the pandemic, living donor organ transplants were almost equal to cadaveric organ transplants. The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of hospital-based clinicians involved in the diagnosis of brain death and donor care in order to raise the deceased organ transplantation rate. Methods The study population consisted of three departments: physicians' anesthesiology, neurology, and neurosurgeons, who signed off on the brain death report. The demographic information of the participants was recorded.A total of 31 questions in the questionnaire were about personal experiences, attitudes toward brain death, organ donation, and donor care, and the level of knowledge and expertise required for the identification and care of potential organ donors. The answers are "agree," "indecisive," and "disagree." Results A total of 29 physicians, seven (24.1%) neurologists, six (20.7%) neurosurgeons, and 16 (55.2%) anesthesiologists answered the questionnaire. Although all of the participants stated that brain death is a definite death, it was determined that they did not agree on how the process should proceed for non-donors after the diagnosis of brain death. Conclusion Physicians' attitudes towards deceased organ transplantation are positive. It is pointed out that society's insensitivity and indifference to the decrease in organ donation rates. Multidisciplinary work motivation may increase deceased organ transplant rates.

Successful Kidney Transplantation of Two Patients with Donors Positive for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection

Despite preventative measures, including vaccination, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection may result in severe illness, particularly in immunosuppressed transplant recipients. This has had a negative impact on organ donation and transplantation rates. However, the risk of transmission from SARS-CoV-2 positive donors to kidney transplant recipients is unknown. We describe 2 cases of successful kidney transplantation from SARS-CoV-2 positive donors. Case 1: 38-year old unvaccinated female, established on haemodialysis for 1 year, with underlying reflux nephropathy. Donor tested SARS-CoV-2 positive on polymerase chain reaction testing with a cycle threshold (CT) value of 29 initially. Sequential testing demonstrated a rise in CT value (37.8), aiding the decision to proceed. The recipient was high immunological risk and received a controlled category 3 donation after circulatory death (DCD) kidney transplant. She had immediate graft function and did not develop SARS-CoV-2 infection. Case 2: 63-year old female, with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She was low immunological risk and for pre-emptive transplantation. The donor was SARS-CoV-2 positive with a CT value of 41.5 and was subsequently negative. Decision was made to proceed with a donation after brainstem death (DBD) transplant. The recipient had immediate graft function and did not develop SARS-CoV-2 infection. We report 2 cases of successful transplantation from SARS-CoV-2 positive donors, without severe infection, with no transmission seen in the recipients post-operatively. Decisions to proceed were primarily made on clinical grounds with assistance from RT-PCR CT values, making this a useful additional tool in determining suitability of organ donation in people who are SARS-CoV-2 positive.

Missed opportunities: saving lives through organ donation following voluntary assisted dying.

Organ donation after voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Australia may potentially increase organ transplant rates. Despite significant international experience with donation after VAD, there has been little discussion of this in Australia. We review potential ethical and practical concerns relating to donation after VAD and advocate action to establish programmes in Australia that ensure safe, ethical and effective donation after VAD.

Development of a high-resolution mass-spectrometry-based method and software for human leukocyte antigen typing.

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system plays a critical role in the human immune system and is strongly associated with immune recognition and rejection in organ transplantation. HLA typing method has been extensively studied to increase the success rates of clinical organ transplantation. However, while polymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT) remains the gold standard, cis/trans ambiguity and nucleotide sequencing signal overlay during heterozygous typing present a problem. The high cost and low processing speed of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) also render this approach inadequate for HLA typing. To address these limitations of the current HLA typing methods, we developed a novel typing technology based on nucleic acid mass spectrometry (MS) of HLA. Our method takes advantage of the high-resolution mass analysis function of MS and HLAMSTTs (HLA MS Typing Tags, some short fragment PCR amplification target products) with precise primer combinations. We correctly typed HLA by measuring the molecular weights of HLAMSTTs with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In addition, we developed a supporting HLA MS typing software to design PCR primers, construct the MS database, and select the best-matching HLA typing results. With this new method, we typed 16 HLA-DQA1 samples, including 6 homozygotes and 10 heterozygotes. The MS typing results were validated by PCR-SBT. The MS HLA typing method is rapid, efficient, accurate, and readily applicable to typing of homozygous and heterozygous samples.

Organ Transplantation Outcomes of Deceased Organ Donors in Organ Procurement Organization-Based Recovery Facilities Versus Acute-Care Hospitals.

Recovery of donated organs at organ procurement organization (OPO)-based recovery facilities has been proposed to improve organ donation outcomes, but few data exist to characterize differences between facilities and acute-care hospitals. To compare donation outcomes between organ donors that underwent recovery procedures in OPO-based recovery facilities and hospitals. Retrospective study of Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data. From a population-based sample of deceased donors after brain death April 2017 to June 2021, donation outcomes were examined in 10 OPO regions with organ recovery facilities. Primary exposure was organ recovery procedure in an OPO-based organ recovery. Primary outcome was the number of organs transplanted per donor. Multivariable regression models were used to adjust for donor characteristics and managing OPO. Among 5010 cohort donors, 2590 (51.7%) underwent recovery procedures in an OPO-based facility. Donors in facilities differed from those in hospitals, including recovery year, mechanisms of death, and some comorbid diseases. Donors in OPO-based facilities had higher total numbers of organs transplanted per donor (mean 3.5 [SD1.8] vs 3.3 [SD1.8]; adjusted mean difference 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.18-0.36). Organ recovery at an OPO-based facility was also associated with more lungs, livers, and pancreases transplanted. Organ recovery procedures at OPO-based facilities were associated with more organs transplanted per donor than in hospitals. Increasing access to OPO-based organ recovery facilities may improve rates of organ transplantation from deceased organ donors, although further data are needed on other important donor management quality metrics.

A Qualitative Content Analysis of Comments on Press Articles on Deemed Consent for Organ Donation in Canada.

In 2019, two Canadian provinces became the first jurisdictions in North America to pass deemed consent legislation to increase deceased organ donation and transplantation rates. We sought to explore the perspectives of the deemed consent legislation for organ donation in Canada from the viewpoint of individuals commenting on press articles. In this qualitative descriptive study, we extracted public comments regarding deemed consent from online articles published by four major Canadian news outlets between January 2019 and July 2020. A total of 4357 comments were extracted from 35 eligible news articles. Comments were independently analyzed by two research team members using a conventional content analysis approach. Commenters' perceptions of the deemed consent legislation for organ donation in Canada predominantly fit within three organizational groups: perceived positive implications of the bills, perceived negative implications of the bills, and key considerations. Three themes emerged within each group that summarized perspectives of the proposed legislation. Themes regarding the perceived positive implications of the bills included majority rules, societal effect, and prioritizing donation. Themes regarding the perceived negative implications of the bills were a right to choose, the potential for abuse and errors, and a possible slippery slope. Improving government transparency and communication, clarifying questions and addressing concerns, and providing evidence for the bills were identified as key considerations. If deemed consent legislation is meant to increase organ donation and transplantation, addressing public concerns will be important to ensure successful implementation.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of the Modified Probable Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Korean Children, 2001-2021.

There are few data about Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in children, particularly in developed countries. This study investigated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the clinical PCP in non-HIV-infected Korean children. Children with positive results for the staining and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for P. jirovecii between 2001 and 2021 were identified. Patients were grouped into clinical PCP, which comprised proven and modified probable cases, and non-PCP groups. Modified probable PCP (mp-PCP) indicate the case which P. jirovecii was detected by conventional PCR rather than real-time PCR test. The differences in demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed between the groups. A total of 110 pneumonia cases with positive results for P. jirovecii PCR and/or stain were identified from 107 children. Of these, 28.2% were classified as non-PCP, 12.7% of proven PCP, and 59.1% of mp-PCP. Compared with the non-PCP group, the mp-PCP group had a significantly higher rate of solid organ transplantation (3.2% vs. 24.6%), fever (58.1% vs. 76.9%), tachypnea (25.8% vs. 66.2%), dyspnea (48.4% vs. 83.1%), desaturation (48.4% vs. 80.0%), and bilateral ground-glass opacity on chest radiograph (19.4% vs. 73.8%). However, when the mp-PCP group was compared with the proven PCP group, there was no statistically significant difference. For children with clinical PCP, age under 5 years of age (odds ratio [OR] 10.7), hospital-onset (OR 6.9), and desaturation as initial symptom (OR 63.5) were significant risk factors for death in multivariable analysis. Modified probable PCP might reliably reflect true PCP in terms of patient’s demographic, clinical features, treatment response, and prognosis. Immunocompromised children with hospital-onset pneumonia who are younger than 5 years of age and have desaturation would be more cautiously and aggressively managed for survival through the screening for P. jirovecii by conventional PCR on appropriate lower respiratory specimens.

Nonlung Solid Organ Transplantation from SARS-CoV-2–Positive Donors: Implications for Post-transplant Surveillance and Outcomes

INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a profound deleterious impact on solid organ transplantation (SOT) rates. There is limited evidence on the risk of donor-recipient SARS-CoV-2 transmission in nonlung SOT. METHODS: We performed a prospective IRB-approved descriptive study of nonlung SOT from SARS-CoV-2–positive donors to uninfected recipients between June 2021 and February 2022. We report donor and recipient characteristics, SARS-CoV-2–related testing and treatment, and short-term outcomes. RESULTS: Eighteen recipients had SOT from 17 SARS-CoV-2–positive donors, including 11 kidneys, 4 livers, and 4 hearts. Median follow-up was 63 days. Donors tested positive by lower respiratory or nasopharyngeal reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cycle thresholds were reported for 59% of donors and ranged from 17.1 to 41.9. Causes of death were: drug intoxication (41%), cardiovascular (29%), blunt trauma (18%), stroke (6%), and gunshot wounds (6%). One donor was treated with monoclonal antibody casirivimab/imdevimab. All recipients had negative SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal RT-PCR before SOT, and 17 of 18 patients had 2- or 3-dose mRNA vaccination pretransplant. Monoclonal antibody prophylaxis was given to 7 recipients. Routine RT-PCR testing was performed post-transplant in 17 of 18 patients. Two recipients tested positive on postoperative day 8 but developed no symptoms. All recipient grafts remain viable, and no recipients developed SARS-CoV-2–related illness. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of nonlung solid organs from SARS-CoV-2–positive donors to uninfected recipients can be performed safely.

Potential organ donors with primary brain tumours: missed opportunities for donation and transplantation identified in Australian cohort study 2010-2015.

Potential organ donors with primary brain tumours (PBT) frequently donate, however some may be declined due to uncertainty about tumour classification or transmission risk to transplant recipients. We sought to describe transmission risk and donation outcome of potential donors with PBT, including identifying missed opportunities for transplantation, and any PBT transmission events. We undertook a population-based cohort study in NSW of all potential donors 2010-2015. PBT potential donors were characterized according to tumour grade and transmission risk, and whether they donated organs. Data linkage was used to determine agreement of risk assessment of potential donors to that in the Biovigilance Register, and to identify any PBT transmissions. Of 2957 potential donors, 76 (3%) had PBTs. There was agreement of risk assessment in 44 (58%) cases. PBT potential donors had fewer comorbidities (1.6 vs. 2.1, P=0.006) than non-PBT potential donors. Forty-eight (63%) potential donors were declined for non-PBT reasons, 18 (24%) were declined because of perceived PBT transmission risk and 10 (13%) donated. All PBT donors had WHO-I or -II tumours, and none had a ventriculo-pertioneal shunt. No transmission events occurred. Donors with WHO-I/II PBT appear to have minimal risk of tumour transmission in solid organ transplantation; it is reassuring that no PBT transmission occurred. There is evidence of risk aversion to referrals with WHO-III/IV tumours. There exists opportunity to improve potential donor risk assessment at the time of referral using integrated data sets, and to increase organ donation and transplantation rates through greater utilization of PBT referrals.

Web-Based Perspectives of Deemed Consent Organ Donation Legislation in Nova Scotia: Thematic Analysis of Commentary in Facebook Groups.

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia recently became the first jurisdiction in North America to implement deemed consent organ donation legislation. Changing the consent models constituted one aspect of a larger provincial program to increase organ and tissue donation and transplantation rates. Deemed consent legislation can be controversial among the public, and public participation is integral to the successful implementation of the program. Social media constitutes key spaces where people express opinions and discuss topics, and social media discourse can influence public perceptions. This project aimed to examine how the public in Nova Scotia responded to legislative changes in Facebook groups. Using Facebook's search engine, we searched for posts in public Facebook groups using the terms "deemed consent," "presumed consent," "opt out," or "organ donation" and "Nova Scotia," appearing from January 1, 2020, to May 1, 2021. The finalized data set included 2337 comments on 26 relevant posts in 12 different public Nova Scotia-based Facebook groups. We conducted thematic and content analyses of the comments to determine how the public responded to the legislative changes and how the participants interacted with one another in the discussions. Our thematic analysis revealed principal themes that supported and critiqued the legislation, raised specific issues, and reflected on the topic from a neutral perspective. Subthemes showed individuals presenting perspectives through a variety of themes, including compassion, anger, frustration, mistrust, and a range of argumentative tactics. The comments included personal narratives, beliefs about the government, altruism, autonomy, misinformation, and reflections on religion and death. Content analysis revealed that Facebook users reacted to popular comments with "likes" more than other reactions. Comments with the most reactions included both negative and positive perspectives about the legislation. Personal donation and transplantation success stories, as well as attempts to correct misinformation, were some of the most "liked" positive comments. The findings provide key insights into perspectives of individuals from Nova Scotia on deemed consent legislation, as well as organ donation and transplantation broadly. The insights derived from this analysis can contribute to public understanding, policy creation, and public outreach efforts that might occur in other jurisdictions considering the enactment of similar legislation.

314.3: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Rate of Organ Donation and Transplantation in the Central American And Caribbean Region

314.3: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Rate of Organ Donation and Transplantation in the Central American And Caribbean Region

Hemodynamic Effects of High-dose Levothyroxine and Methylprednisolone in Brain-dead Potential Organ Donors

Hormonal replacement therapy is administered to many brain-dead organ donors to improve hemodynamic stability. Previous clinical studies present conflicting results with several randomized studies reporting no benefit. Consecutive adult donors (N = 199) were randomized to receive high-dose levothyroxine, high-dose methylprednisolone, both (Combo), or no hormonal therapy (Control). Vasopressor requirements using the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) were assessed at baseline, 4 h, and at procurement. Crossover to the Combo group was sufficient to require separate intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the mean (±SD) reduction in VIS from baseline to procurement was 1.6 ± 2.6, 14.9 ± 2.6, 10.9 ± 2.6, and 7.1 ± 2.6 for the levothyroxine, methylprednisolone, Combo, and Control groups, respectively. While controlling for the baseline score, the reduction in VIS was significantly greater in the methylprednisolone and Combo groups and significantly less in the levothyroxine group compared with controls. Results were similar in the per-protocol analysis. High-dose methylprednisolone alone or in combination with levothyroxine allowed for significant reduction in vasopressor support in organ donors. Levothyroxine alone offered no advantage in reducing vasopressor support. Organ yield, transplantation rates, and recipient outcomes were not adversely affected.

Cancer Risk and Mutational Patterns Following Organ Transplantation.

The rapid development of medical technology and widespread application of immunosuppressive drugs have improved the success rate of organ transplantation significantly. However, the use of immunosuppressive agents increases the frequency of malignancy greatly. With the prospect of “precision medicine” for tumors and development of next-generation sequencing technology, more attention has been paid to the application of high-throughput sequencing technology in clinical oncology research, which is mainly applied to the early diagnosis of tumors and analysis of tumor-related genes. All generations of cancers carry somatic mutations, meanwhile, significant differences were observed in mutational signatures across tumors. Systematic sequencing of cancer genomes from patients after organ transplantation can reveal DNA damage and repair processes in exposed cancer cells and their precursors. In this review, we summarize the application of high-throughput sequencing and organoids in the field of organ transplantation, the mutational patterns of cancer genomes, and propose a new research strategy for understanding the mechanism of cancer following organ transplantation.

Demographics and Utilization of Hepatitis C Hearts: A Single Center Experience

<h3>Purpose</h3> Since the advent of direct acting antiviral therapies as a cure for hepatitis C virus (HCV), the use of HCV nucleic acid test (NAT) positive donors in adult heart transplantation is increasing. The degree to which HCV NAT+ donor characteristics may impact donor selection remains unclear. We sought to explore the demographics and organ acceptance and transplantation rates of HCV NAT+ donor offers to our center, relative to those of other donor offers. <h3>Methods</h3> We used the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) DonorNet database to evaluate 1,000 consecutive primary donor offers made to our center between January 1, 2018 and March 3, 2019. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA tests. <h3>Results</h3> Of 1,000 donor offers evaluated by our center, 238 were HCV antibody (Ab) positive of which 177 were HCV NAT positive. Compared to other donors, HCV NAT+ donors tended to be younger, male, and to die more often from drug overdose. Despite procurement teams having to travel longer distances to recover them, HCV NAT+ donors had higher rates of organ acceptance and ultimate transplantation relative to other donors. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Favorable demographic characteristics of HCV NAT+ donors are associated with higher rates of organ acceptance and transplantation at our center, despite longer procurement distances. Especially given the promising early outcomes among recipients of these donors, we anticipate that the rate of HCV NAT+ donor utilization will soon eclipse that of HCV naïve donor utilization nationwide.