Currently, the overall risk of COVID-19 spreading from person to person through transplantation is unknown. In cases of deceased donors, screening the donor’s travel history is important to determine if the donor went to a location where COVID-19 is spreading. The American Society of Transplantation (AST) says organs from deceased donors with a known or suspected case of COVID-19 should be deferred. The AST recommends hospitals should treat other deceased donors on a case-by-case basis and carefully review each case to determine if the donor:
Lived or traveled in a location where COVID-19 was spreading but showed no symptoms
Had COVID-19 but recovered
Doctors should consider the risk to the recipient, the need for the organ, and the possibility of isolation for the recipient after transplant. Living donors should not travel to areas where COVID-19 is widely spreading. They also should report any symptoms they may experience before a transplant procedure. For more information, visit UPMC.com/Transplant.