Alliance for Paired Donation FAQ's

What is the Alliance for Paired Donation (APD)?


• The Alliance for Paired Donation (APD) is non-profit organization whose mission is to save lives by shortening the waiting time for kidney patients through Kidney Paired Donation (KPD).


What is Kidney Paired Donation?

• Kidney Paired Donation is a way to help people who are in need of a kidney transplant and have someone who is willing to give them a kidney, but that willing person is incompatible (most often because they are differing blood types). We use a specialized computer program to match these pairs with others who are in the same circumstance and who have registered to participate in kidney paired donation through the Alliance for Paired Donation.


Is this a new program?

• Yes. Since 2000, less than 200 kidney paired donations have occurred in the U.S. However, the APD facilitated 22 paired exchange transplants from February 2007 thru July 2008. Many more are in the works for the coming months. We believe that in the future, as many as 3,000 people could be helped by kidney paired donation per year.


Is the Alliance a national network?

• The Alliance currently partners with approximately 65 transplant centers in 22 states, so while we haven’t enrolled centers in every state, we’re making progress. APD is committed to developing a national system so that patients all over the country will have access to this new option.


Why is receiving a kidney from a living donor preferable to a deceased donor transplant?

• The average living donor kidney functions for 15.5 years, while a deceased donor kidney typically lasts only half as long.


How many people are on the waiting list for a kidney? Can someone stay on the national waiting list and be enrolled in a network such as the APD?

• Right now in the US, there are 76,615 people waiting for a kidney transplant. It is estimated that 12 people die every day because they don’t get the organ they need.

Enrolling in the APD network does not change a person’s status on the national waiting list. They will not lose their place or their waiting time, and are free to accept a deceased donor kidney if a good match is found through UNOS prior to APD finding a match for them.

For more information or the latest statistics, please visit: OPTN.org.

What other services does the Alliance for Paired Donation provide to registered participants?

• APD also exists to help living donors find the financial assistance they need, either directly or through other organizations, such as the National Transplant Fund and the National Living Donor Assistance Center. The Alliance also provides services to member transplant centers, helping them develop their living donor programs through kidney paired donation. APD is happy to provide speakers for educational meetings for patient and professional groups on topics related to kidney paired donation.


Does the Alliance allow altruistic “Good Samaritan” donors to participate?

• Absolutely! The Alliance for Paired Donation successfully pioneered the first Never-Ending Altruistic Donor (NEAD) chain. Building on the traditional method of paired exchanges, the Alliance uses altruistic (or "good Samaritan") donors to begin a chain of transplants that can be performed in a step-wise fashion, rather than simultaneously. Not only is this logistically easier, but it allows the recipient's loved ones (including their incompatible donor) to be present for the transplant and recovery, before going on to give a kidney to someone else.

National news coverage of a chain of transplants initiated by the APD’s first altruistic donor, Matt Jones, resulted in a tremendous influx of patients and potential altruistic donors. To date, Matt’s selfless act has resulted in ten transplants at six transplant centers in five states. Additionally, on December 7,, 2007, APD’s second NEAD chain was begun by Tracy Armstrong. Tracy’s chain immediately resulted in three transplants last December, and it, too, is continuing in 2008.

For more information, please contact 419-866-5505 Paireddonation.org.

Or, call Laurie Reece, Executive Director, at 512-961-6199
Laurie.reece@paireddonation.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Sign Your Donor Card & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network
For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

Your generosity can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 through cornea and tissue donation