Directed donation occurs when a donor and recipient know each other. The donor and recipient may or may not be related. In the past, for best results, 献血者和接受者需要有匹配的血型，接受者的身体需要不敏感. If a recipient is not sensitized, 这意味着受体的抗体不应该攻击来自供体的血液和组织, leading to organ rejection.

However, donors and recipients do not have to be an exact match. The Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center developed a method, called plasmapheresis, 这使得“不匹配”的捐赠者仍然可以为接受者提供肾脏. Through our Incompatible Kidney Transplantation Program (InKTP) and our Highly Sensitized Patient Protocol, more options are available for non-matching, directed donors and recipients.

另一个直接捐赠的选择是参加肾脏交换. Through this type of donation, a donor and recipient may trade kidneys with another donor/recipient pair. For example, if there were two donor/recipient sets, A and B, Donor A’s kidney would go to Recipient B, while Donor B’s kidney would go to Recipient A. When multiple donor/recipient pairs are used, this type of matching is called a Paired Kidney Exchange. 

Non-directed donors, or altruistic donors, are individuals who choose to donate a kidney to an unknown recipient. This kind of donation has the potential to start a domino effect of kidney donations.

The criteria for live donation of a kidney: 

• Must be in good physical and mental health
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must have a body mass index (BMI) that is less than 35

Must be free from the following:

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure in certain individuals
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Hepatitis
• Organ diseases
• Infectious diseases

Become a living donor

The evaluation helps determine if, as the donor, you match the recipient. 在评估的第一阶段，你将接受组织分型和实验室筛选. 血液和组织类型检查，看看你和你的接受者是否兼容, and how well the kidney will be accepted by the recipient.

Comprehensive lab testing may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Blood test
• Urine test
• Pap smear / gynecological exam
• Colonoscopy (if over age 50)
• Cancer screening
• Antibody screen

If these lab results are satisfactory, you’ll next meet with transplant physicians to discuss the procedure and its risks. 内科医生和外科医生会检查你的结果，并要求你做额外的检查, such as x-rays, electrocardiograms, or radiologic testing.

This testing will including a full day of appointments and diagnostic testing. 在此期间，您还将会见我们的心理学家，捐赠倡导者和护士协调员. Further testing may also be required.

检查完成后，您的病例将提交给多学科移植团队. 这个团队包括外科医生、肾病学家、心理学家、捐赠者倡导者和护士协调员. 他们代表你，在移植手术方面做出最符合你利益的决定.

It is important to note that, as a donor, you will have a different transplant team from your recipient. Your team cares for you exclusively. It is a common fear that donors are viewed as a kidney and not as a person; however, at the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center在美国，器官捐献者和我们所有的推荐十大正规网赌平台一样，都得到了同样的考虑和尊重.

Note: At any time during the evaluation process, up until the moment of surgery, you are entitled to change your mind about the donation. 这个决定是由你的医生做出的，并且是完全保密的.

If you are approved for the donation after all of the tests are completed, the surgery will be scheduled. The surgery is usually scheduled four to six weeks in advance. Typically, a living kidney transplant donor spends two days in the hospital, and will have an additional four to six weeks of recovery time. 来自外地的献血者应计划在出院后在城里多待一周.

During recovery, you will experience some pain and discomfort. 这应该很容易通过处方药物或非处方止痛药缓解. For two weeks, you should avoid driving, 在手术后的六周内，你应该避免拿起任何重量超过10磅的东西. You are encouraged to walk several times a day. If you have children, you may need initial help in caring for them.

Depending on the type of work you do, 术后两周或八周后，你就可以重返工作岗位. There will be follow-up tests to monitor your health.

As with any surgery, live kidney donation has its risks:

• Anesthesia, and possible allergic reaction to anesthesia
• Pain and discomfort
• Infection
• Bleeding and blood loss which requires transfusion
• Blood clots
• Fever
• Nausea
• Urinary tract infection
• Pneumonia
• Injury to surrounding tissue and other organs
• Scarring
• Death

约翰霍普金斯大学的一名移植外科医生领导了一项研究，监测活体肾脏捐赠者的长期生存情况，发现活体肾脏捐赠者的长期死亡率与普通大众相似或更低.

Donors should not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). 泰诺是唯一的非处方止痛药，应该在捐赠后使用.
Download this alphabetical list of common NSAIDS to avoid. This list is not all-inclusive.

As a living donor, you should be aware of the financial aspects of donation.
Covered by Recipient’s Insurance: 

• Screening tests
• Surgery
• Some follow-up care

Not Covered by Recipient’s Insurance:

• Time off of work
• Travel expenses
• Expenses for treatment of unrelated conditions (For example, if a screening test shows cancerous cells, 这种情况的治疗不包括在接受者的保险范围内。.

Donors should check with their own insurance prior to donation. 虽然不太可能，但捐献肾脏的行为可能会影响未来的保险范围. We recommend that you have insurance prior to donating a kidney.

For travel expenses and other funds, the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) offers a grant to donors. 捐赠人和受赠人都必须满足一定的收入条件，捐赠人才有资格接受捐赠.

If you are interested in becoming a living kidney donor, call 410-614-9345.