Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
 Search

		Submit


Transplant Safety








CDC’s Role										Related Pages
										On this Page
			Additional Organizations Involved in Transplant Safety
		
Improvements in donor screening, serologic testing, reporting and investigating suspected donor-derived disease transmission have improved organ and tissue safety. The risk of acquiring an infection from an organ or tissue transplant is thought to be very low.  However, the risk for transmission of infectious pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa/parasites, remains and requires continued vigilance.
Multiple organizations play a role in organ and tissue safety. CDC provides expertise and assistance investigating potential transmission of infections from organs or tissues. CDC investigates suspected disease transmission, assisting state and local health departments, especially when the investigation is multistate. CDC reference laboratories help identify the transmitted pathogens provide additional testing capabilities that may not be otherwise available. CDC disease detectives assist the healthcare community in tracing back diseased organs to the original donor in order to identify who else may have received contaminated organs and/or tissue.  Findings from investigations help inform regulatory decisions and guidance on reducing the risk of infectious transmissions through organ and tissue.Additional Organizations Involved in Transplant SafetyOrgans
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is a government agency that provides oversight of organ recovery and transplantation through the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), established by Congress under the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984.
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a private, non-profit organization that operates the OPTN under contract with HRSA. OPTN data is collected on all deceased and living donors, organ candidates and organ recipients. OPOs and transplant hospitals must be members of the OPTN to participate in organ recovery and transplantation, and are expected to follow OPTN policies.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a government agency that establishes performance standards for transplant centers and OPOs to determine certification or recertification. The ability to receive Medicare reimbursement is linked to meeting CMS performance standards.
The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) is a national, non-profit organization that offers a voluntary accreditation service to its 58 OPO institutional members located within the United States and its territories to help ensure compliance with federal regulations and AOPO standards. AOPO also provides services such as education and advocacy for its members.Tissues
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) is a government agency that regulates human tissue, including ocular tissue, for transplantation.  Regulations cover all tissue banks that are involved in the recovery, processing, storage and/or distribution of tissue. Only healthcare facilities that participate in the recovery, processing or distribution of tissue for transplantation are also required to follow FDA tissue regulations.; All tissue and eye banks must be registered with the FDA and follow these regulations.
The American Association of Tissue BanksExternal, a professional, non-profit scientific and educational organization, provides an accreditation program for transplant tissue banks.  Accreditation is mandatory for maintaining status as an AATB institutional member.  Currently, more than 125 tissue banks are accredited based on compliance with AATB’s Standards for Tissue Banking.  These Standards include requirements harmonized with applicable FDA External regulations and guidance.
The Eye Bank Association of AmericaExternal is a national, non-profit organization that provides an accreditation service for its 83 U.S. and 12 international member eye banks ensuring compliance with EBAA published medical standards.  Accreditation is mandatory for active membership in the EBAA.  EBAA Medical Standards define minimum standards of practice in the recovery, preservation, processing, storage, and distribution of ocular tissue for transplantation, and are endorsed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Medical standards include requirements to maintain eye bank compliance with applicable FDAExternal regulations.Top of Page
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  October 13, 2022						Source: 	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate homeTransplant Safety
Transplant Safety Overviewplus icon
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
CDC’s Role
Outbreak Investigations
Protecting Patientsplus icon
Donor Screening and Testing
Investigating, Tracking and Reporting Infections
Information for Healthcare Providersplus icon
Current Guideline for Organ Transplants
Additional Transplant Related Organizations
CDC’s Transplant-Transmitted Infection Process Antibiotic ResistanceBlood SafetyDialysis SafetyGet Smart for HealthcareHICPACHand HygieneInjection SafetyMedication SafetySepsisVaccine Safety


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue