Pairing process
We evaluate potential donors to make sure they are healthy enough to donate. If they are, we determine blood type and antibody status, two key factors used to match a donor with a potential recipient.
We enter this information about donors and recipients into our matching software program, which includes information about other patients and their approved donors. This matching program will tell us which of three donation possibilities are available:
- A donor is compatible with his or her intended recipient and may choose to give a kidney to that person.
- A donor is compatible with his or her intended recipient, but is also compatible with another recipient whose potential donor is compatible with the first donor’s recipient. In some cases, the kidney from a different donor may be more appropriate for the first donor’s intended recipient.
- The potential donor is not compatible with their intended recipient. However, the donor and recipient are compatible with another living donor pair. In this case, donor A would give a kidney to recipient B, and donor B would give a kidney to recipient A.
The goal of this paired donation process is to help as many recipients as possible, using each donor kidney in the most effective way possible. Ultimately, each donor in the paired exchange has achieved what they set out to do: give someone the gift of life. And each recipient has been given the priceless gift of a living donor kidney.
Why are some eligible donors more compatible than others?
Studies have shown that differences in the size of the recipient and donor can influence kidney transplant outcomes. For example, a 5’1”, 110-pound female may not be the best donor for a 6’4”, 250-pound male. In other words, proper organ size can be critical to a successful transplant.
In this scenario, the first recipient would receive a more appropriately sized organ, and the first potential donor would donate a kidney to another compatible and suitable patient. This act can start a chain where multiple donor/recipient pairs are possible because the first donor chose to donate to someone other than their intended recipient.
Internal paired exchange
The kidney transplant programs at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Baylor All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple utilize an internal paired exchange based on an advanced software application. This tool allows physicians to rapidly and accurately match living organ donors with patients who have willing, healthy, but incompatible donors.
Because each medical center uses the same electronic health record, offers can be quickly evaluated, and when it’s time to transplant the kidneys, the organs travel only a short distance.
If a potential recipient is in the internal paired exchange system for several months without a match, they are entered into the national matching programs as well.
Contact us
Dallas: 214.820.GIFT (214.820.4438) | Fort Worth: 817.922.2990 | Temple: 254.724.9443
Baylor Scott & White Health transplant programs
Dallas
In North Texas, Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, in Dallas has one of the busiest multi-specialty organ transplant systems in the world—the Baylor Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute.
Fort Worth
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth is an internationally renowned destination for transplant care and one of the largest in the nation.
Temple
Based at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple in Central Texas, our organ transplant teams focus on providing personalized care in a supportive, collaborative environment. Our patient-focused approach to transplant care in Temple makes you part of the team as we work together to help you live a longer, healthier life.
Outreach locations
Teams of physicians, nurses and assistants travel to outreach clinics throughout Texas to deliver world-renowned transplantation medicine to an expanding network of communities. Both initial organ transplant evaluation and post-transplant follow-up appointments are available.