The Evaluation Process

No. All donor testing is covered by the recipient’s insurance. If you are an anonymous donor with no intended recipient, the transplant center covers the cost. This includes labs, clinic visits, scans, and the hospital stay for surgery. Non-medical expenses, such as travel or time off work, may be eligible for assistance and are discussed later.

Yes. Some early steps can be completed from home, but you will need to come to UC Davis Health for your consultation visit and special tests.

The length of this visit depends on your age:

• If you are under 50, this will be completed in one day.
  
  
• If you are 50 or older, this will need one and a half days.

The living kidney donor evaluation usually takes a few months.

First Steps

• Complete the Living Kidney Donor Questionnaire
  
  
• An Independent Living Donor Advocate will contact you
  
  
• A Living Donor Coordinator will contact you

Initial testing near home

• Blood and urine tests at a local lab
  
  
• A 24-hour blood pressure study done at home

At the same time, you will also be asked to make sure that your cancer screenings are up to date with your primary care provider.

Visit to UC Davis Health

You will come in for: 

• A donor education class
  
  
• Visits with a kidney doctor, dietitian, and social worker

Other testing and scans:

• A kidney function test called Iohexol. This is a blood test using a small amount of dye that measures your kidney function with high accuracy.
  
  
• More blood tests, including tests to check for compatibility with your intended recipient.
  
  
• EKG, chest x-ray, CT scan. These tests do not involve any procedure or surgery.
  
  
• Depending on your age, you may need heart tests (heart ultrasound and stress test). 

Final review

Once the evaluation process is complete, a team of doctors, staff, and your donor advocate review your results and make the final decision.

Your safety comes first

If there are concerns about your health, your evaluation may be paused or stopped.

Once you are approved, your living donor coordinator will help schedule your surgery based on when you and the recipient are both ready. Your preferences are considered.

Before surgery, you will have an in-person visit at UC Davis Health, where you will meet your transplant surgeon.