Background
The purpose of these policy changes is to improve patient safety by reducing the risk of donor-derived transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and West Nile Virus (WNV) through solid organ transplantation.
Recent donor-derived transmission events demonstrated that the existing testing windows for HIV and WNV may not detect infections acquired shortly before organ recovery. Although testing was completed in accordance with OPTN policy, infections occurring after donor testing but before organ recovery resulted in transmission to transplant recipients.
To reduce this risk, the OPTN Board of Directors approved emergency policy changes requiring HIV and WNV testing to be performed as close as possible to organ recovery, but within 7 days prior to organ recovery for living donors.
Organ procurement organizations (OPOs), living donor recovery hospitals, and transplant hospitals will need to update donor evaluation workflows and laboratory scheduling practices to ensure HIV and WNV are performed within the revised 7-day testing window.
Based on the implementation date of August 17, 2027 for WNV and HIV testing, WNV and HIV testing results must be available from within 7 days for all living donor donations that occur on or after August 24, 2026.
These changes strengthen donor infectious disease screening and better align testing with the period of greatest clinical relevance immediately preceding organ recovery.
Sponsoring Committee: Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee
Board Approved: June 18, 2026
Effective Date: Aug. 17, 2026
Summary of changes
- Reduce the required HIV NAT testing window from 28 days to 7 days prior to organ recovery.
- Reduce the required WNV NAT testing window from 14 days to 7 days prior to organ recovery.
- Continue to require testing to be performed as close as possible to organ recovery.
Resources
- Letter from OPTN President John Magee
- Policy Notice (PDF - 315 KB)