title: Optimal testing of the live organ donor for blood-borne viral pathogens: the report of a consensus conference.
abstract: In 2011, live donor transmission events involving Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prompted consideration of changing the process of live donor testing and evaluation in the United States. Following CDC recommendations for screening all live donors with nucleic acid testing for HIV, HCV and Hepatitis B (HBV), a consensus conference was convened to evaluate this recommendation. Workgroups focused on determining whether there was an evidence based rationale for identifying live donors at increased risk for HIV, HBV and HCV, testing options and timing for diagnosing these infections in potential donors and consent issues specific to potential increased risk donor utilization. Strategies for donor assessment were proposed. Based on review of the limited available evidence as well as guidance documents and policies currently in place in the United States and other countries, the conference participants recommended that HIV, HBV and HCV NAT should not be required for live donor evaluation; the optimal timing of live donor testing for these blood borne pathogens has not been determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. blumbere@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Blumberg
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ison
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pruett
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Segev
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral