Liver Donation Requirements

To donate a liver, you generally need to be a healthy adult between 18 and 60, with a compatible blood type, good liver health, and no serious medical or psychological conditions.

Age and Health Criteria Most transplant centers require living liver donors to be between 18 and 60 years old, though some centers may accept slightly older donors if they are in excellent health Donors must be in good overall physical and mental health, without significant heart, kidney, or lung disease, active cancer, chronic infections, or substance abuse Mental and psychological health is also assessed to ensure the donor fully understands the risks and is not under coercion To donate a liver, you generally need to be a healthy adult between 18 and 60, with a compatible blood type, good liver health, and no serious medical or psychological conditions. Age and Health Criteria Most transplant centers require living liver donors to be between 18 and 60 years old, though some centers may accept slightly older donors if they are in excellent health Donors must be in good overall physical and mental health, without significant heart, kidney, or lung disease, active cancer, chronic infections, or substance abuse Liver Health The liver must be healthy and capable of regenerating. Donors with fatty liver (more than 20% fat in a biopsy) are usually disqualified, as fatty livers may not function well for the recipient Donors with a BMI over 30 may be asked to lose weight and undergo further testing to ensure liver health The remaining liver after donation must be sufficient for the donor’s survival, typically at least 25% of the original liver volume Blood Type Compatibility Blood type compatibility is essential. Most transplants occur between donors and recipients with the same or compatible blood types. Blood type O is considered a universal donor, though some precautions are needed when transplanting into non-O recipients Evaluation Process The evaluation process is thorough and may take 4 to 6 months. It includes: Medical history review and physical examination Blood tests, liver function tests, and imaging Cardiac and other organ function tests as needed Psychological and social evaluations Consultation with a multidisciplinary team including surgeons, hepatologists, dieticians, and donor advocates An independent donor advocate ensures the donor is volunteering freely and understands the risks Donors can withdraw consent at any time. Additional Considerations Donors must not receive financial gain for donation, as selling organs is illegal A support system is recommended to assist during recovery Both directed (to a known recipient) and non-directed (anonymous) donations are possible Living liver donation is safe for carefully screened individuals, but it requires a commitment to the evaluation process, surgery, and recovery to ensure both donor and recipient safety The liver must be healthy and capable of regenerating. Donors with fatty liver (more than 20% fat in a biopsy) are usually disqualified, as fatty livers may not function well for the recipient Donors with a BMI over 30 may be asked to lose weight and undergo further testing to ensure liver health The remaining liver after donation must be sufficient for the donor’s survival, typically at least 25% of the original liver volume Blood Type Compatibility Blood type compatibility is essential. Most transplants occur between donors and recipients with the same or compatible blood types. Blood type O is considered a universal donor, though some precautions are needed when transplanting into non-O recipients Evaluation Process The evaluation process is thorough and may take 4 to 6 months. It includes: Medical history review and physical examination Blood tests, liver function tests, and imaging Cardiac and other organ function tests as needed Psychological and social evaluations Consultation with a multidisciplinary team including surgeons, hepatologists, dieticians, and donor advocates An independent donor advocate ensures the donor is volunteering freely and understands the risks Donors can withdraw consent at any time. Additional Considerations Donors must not receive financial gain for donation, as selling organs is illegal A support system is recommended to assist during recovery

Both directed (to a known recipient) and non-directed (anonymous) donations are possible Living liver donation is safe for carefully screened individuals, but it requires a commitment to the evaluation process, surgery, and recovery to ensure both donor and recipient safety