Paired and pooled donation
A donor and recipient whose blood groups or tissue types are mismatched (or incompatible) can be paired with another donor and recipient in the same situation. This is called 'paired donation'.
Sometimes, more than two donors and two recipients will be involved in the swap (called 'pooled donation') but each recipient will benefit from a transplant that they would not otherwise have had.
Paired or pooled donations have only been used for kidney transplants. Donor and recipient operations are planned to happen at the same time so that organs can be exchanged at the same time.
Local transplant centres will assess whether people are suitable to be put forward for paired or pooled donation. If so, their details will be put on to a national register where they can be matched to a compatible pair. Contact details for local transplant centres are available from UK Transplant.
Read about David Clark and his wife Lindsey, who are considering the option of paired / pooled living donor kidney transplant, when this option becomes available after 1 September 2006.
Briefing on living donation