The decision to become an organ donor is a profoundly generous act that offers a second chance at life to thousands of people waiting for a transplant. Many people considering registration are uncertain whether their age or medical history might exclude them from donating. The process of determining suitability is complex and depends far more on the condition of the organs than on the donor’s birth date. Understanding the medical criteria used to evaluate a potential donor shows that nearly anyone can offer hope to a recipient.
Is There a Maximum Age for Organ Donation?
There is no formal upper age limit that automatically disqualifies someone from becoming an organ donor. Modern transplant medicine focuses on physiological age—the actual health and function of the internal organs—rather than chronological age. This means a healthy 80-year-old may be a more suitable donor than a younger person with organ damage due to illness or lifestyle factors.
Medical professionals determine suitability for donation on a case-by-case basis at the time of death. Record-breaking donations from elderly individuals occur regularly, demonstrating this shift in focus. For example, individuals in their 80s and 90s have successfully donated livers and kidneys.
Transplant teams are increasingly considering organs from older donors, particularly for older recipients, a concept known as “expanded criteria” donation. The successful use of these organs increases the overall donor pool. This provides a viable option for patients who might otherwise wait years for a transplant.
Health Conditions That Disqualify Donors
While age is rarely a barrier, certain severe medical conditions can prevent an individual from donating organs. The primary concern is protecting the recipient from a transmissible disease or ensuring the transplanted organ will function successfully. A person with active, metastatic cancer is generally ineligible to donate, as cancer cells could be transferred to the recipient.
Systemic infectious diseases that could be transmitted through the transplant process are also disqualifying factors. These include active tuberculosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and uncontrolled severe bacterial or viral infections. Eligibility rules are continually evolving; for instance, HIV-positive individuals can now donate to HIV-positive recipients.
Many common chronic conditions do not automatically lead to disqualification. Diseases like well-controlled diabetes or high blood pressure often do not preclude the donation of healthy organs. Even if one organ is unsuitable, such as a pancreas affected by long-standing diabetes, other organs like the heart or kidneys may still be viable for transplantation. The medical assessment focuses on the specific damage to each organ rather than the donor’s overall medical history.
The Donor Evaluation and Matching Process
Once a potential donor is identified, the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) begins an evaluation process. The OPO coordinator reviews the donor’s complete medical and social history to determine which organs and tissues are suitable for transplant. This evaluation includes reviewing recent lab values, imaging, and organ function to assess the condition of the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Specialized tests, such as a tissue biopsy of the liver or kidneys, may be performed to assess the microscopic structure and quality of the organ tissue. This assessment of organ health overrides any prior assumptions about the donor’s age or medical history. The donor’s clinical data, including blood type, height, and weight, is entered into the national computer network managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
The system generates a ranked match list of potential recipients. Matching is based on factors like blood type compatibility, tissue match, medical urgency, and time spent on the waiting list. The OPO contacts the transplant center for the highest-ranked patient, and the final decision to accept or decline the organ rests with the transplant surgeon. This case-by-case process ensures that only the best available organs are accepted, prioritizing the recipient’s long-term health.