United Network for Organ Sharing: Organ Donation and Transplantation

Publications

UNOS Update
Find out about our bimonthly magazine that contains news and information of interest to the transplant community.

Policy Brochures
Stay up-to-date with current organ allocation policy.

White Papers
Read white papers that are available for informational purposes to stimulate discussion around very important subjects.

Data

A Guide to Data Reports
A number of self service data reports are available to help you manage your transplant team. View a comprehensive listing of all reports available on OPTN and UNet (TIEDI, Waitlist, and DonorNet). The table lists the report and where you can find it, along with a description of what it is and suggestions for how you can use it.

Creating and Requesting Data Reports
At the Transplant Management Forum in April 2009, UNOS staff presented "Find the Data You Need to Effectively Manage Your Team." View the slides from this popular breakout session for some helpful tips on how to generate your own data reports.

Other Resources

PDF Format UNOS Patient Information Letter - English
Word Format UNOS Patient Information Letter - English
UNOS Patient Information Letter - Spanish
UNOS Patient Information Letter - Spanish
As indicated in OPTN/UNOS Bylaw Appendix B, Section II. F. (Patient Notification), the UNOS Patient Information Letter should be sent in conjunction with hospitals' patient notification letters. Transplant hospitals should remove the patient services number from their notification letters and reference the inclusion of the Patient Information Letter.

PDF Format Top Five MPSC Policy Violations
View a listing of the top five policy violations that resulted in MPSC action in 2007. The handout also includes a summary of OPTN policies and bylaws that are routinely reviewed by auditors.

PDF Format Transplant Center Challenges
View the top challenges transplant centers faced in 2007.

PDF Format Guidance on Machine Preservation in Deceased Donor Kidneys
Learn more about the use of machine preservation in decreasing the risk for delayed graft function, particularly in ECD kidneys.

PDF Format Acknowledging the Gift of Life: Sharing Information with Donor Families
Get general information and a consent form to facilitate the release of recipient information.

PDF Format Specimens for Histocompatibility Testing/Guidelines for OPOs
These guidelines will help you determine the appropriate number and type of specimens you need to collect from deceased organ donors for histocompatibility testing.

Brain Death Video
This video educates health professionals on the diagnosis of brain death, based on the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research.

PDF Format Understanding Brain Death Flyer - English
Understanding Brain Death Flyer - Spanish
This one-page resource provides an explanation to the patient's family about the definition and meaning of brain death.

Professional Links
Connect to professional organizations relevant to transplant professionals.

Calculators

MELD/PELD Calculator
Lean more about the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD), numerical scales that are currently used for liver allocation.

Lung Allocation Score (LAS) Calculator
Learn more about the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) system and its algorithm which uses a measure between waitlist and post-transplant survival when determining lung allocation.

CPRA Calculator
Learn more about the Calculated Panel Reactive Antibody (CPRA) which uses unacceptable antigens to determine the probability of sensitization to the donor population.