Hep C+ and organ donation

TazziRN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

Depends on the organs. Skin and, I believe, corneas can be used.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

I just went through organ procurement class so I know the ans to this one...Hep C can donate to another Hep C pt. I was surprised to learn this, but true.

I am thinking they can also donate skin, in fact almost any one can donate skin.

Another thing I learned is any one with ahlz or dementia can not donate a thing!!!

annmariern · Jun 6, 2008

I just went through organ procurement class so I know the ans to this one...Hep C can donate to another Hep C pt. I was surprised to learn this, but true.
I am thinking they can also donate skin, in fact almost any one can donate skin.
Another thing I learned is any one with ahlz or dementia can not donate a thing!!!

Thanks, well maybe it was for another Hep C+, would thet test for HIV though? Sad case, a homicide investigation, very young girl, I hope some good would come out of it, but I was just kind of shocked at the fact she was high risk for HIV and wondered if the reciepient is aware of the risk. I know if your at deaths door and an organ is available, tough call, but after the transfusion screening thing and the restrictions it just surprises me that the organ donation is so tough. Whats with dementia, its communicable now?

core0 · Jun 6, 2008

Young Pt with known hep c, drug OD and intracranial bleed, and they harvested organs? I thought Hep C and no HIV screen would rule them out of donating? Just curious, if anyone has any info, this really surprised me.

Here are the guidelines from the CDC.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00031670.htm

Drug OD is not a contraindication. IVDU is. A lot of donors are because of stroke secondary to cocaine these days. As far as no HIV screen I can pretty much guarantee that this was done. It is usually done by the OPO and may not be done at the hospital (although usually an antibody test is done at the hospital). HCV is a special situation. Given the number of HCV positive recipients and data that if you give these patients HCV positive organs some programs will transplant HCV positive organs into HCV positive recipients. Careful consent is involved here.

The other possibility is that the organs were taken for research. Then the testing doesn't matter.

David Carpenter, PA-C

RN1982 · Jun 6, 2008

It's true. People with Hep C and HIV can donate. It's a common misconception.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

People with dementia/ahlz can not donate because they may really have Crutchfeild Jacob(sp) ...why they dont test for CJ I didnt ask, but I do remember learning about CJ in micro and was facinated by it, and we actually had a young man in our city die from it a few years ago. So of course it has peaked my interest and when ever I hear about it my ears always perk up.

To the original post--yes that is a sad case, glad to know something good is coming from such a tragedy. I am always amazed when people in 2008 say they are not organ donors. I know I should not judge but I just dont get it??

My organ procurement class was really interesting, if ever given the chance take it.

CHATSDALE · Jun 6, 2008

i don't kno if this is relevant but once dx with hep c you ae always positive but you may have gone through a successful interferon program

in this state people with hep c and hiv cannot donate blood or organs

core0 · Jun 6, 2008

i don't kno if this is relevant but once dx with hep c you ae always positive but you may have gone through a successful interferon program
in this state people with hep c and hiv cannot donate blood or organs

The HIV exclusion is pretty universal. Even programs that transplant HIV positive recipients will not take HIV positive organs. However, the decision on HCV positive organs is made by the receiving program not the OPO. Blood is handled by your local blood bank and is different than organs. I'm not aware of any blood bank that would accept HCV positive blood.

When a family/SO agrees to donate an organ they are offered first locally and then regionally and finally nationally. For livers and kidneys there is a check box on the recipient form for HCV positive organs. If none of the local programs accept HCV positive organs then they automatically go out of the area. If they are decent organs they will almost always be used. Usually by high MELD programs in the Northeast or California.

David Carpenter, PA-C

RedCell · Jun 6, 2008

Ihave put several people to sleep so far in school that were undergoing liver transplants. Sometimes they will transplant a hepatitis C liver into a noninfected patient. I asked the CRNA and attending this same question the first time I encountered this situation. Was told it was better to live with Hep C than to not live at all.

Journey_On, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2008

Was told it was better to live with Hep C than to not live at all.

That is a very good point.

I tested positive for the antibody to Hep C in college - found out when I donated blood. I had such a low viral load (?) that they could not even detect a genotype - it only turned up positive through the TMA assay. For some reason, I went through with the interferon + ribavirin therapy. I guess I was afraid of it developing into something later on down the road. 6 months into treatment, the TMA assay results were negative, and I discontinued the treatment. A year after I was fully off the therapy, the test results were negative again. I haven't gotten anything (AST, ALT, etc.) checked since then.

I was told I could not donate blood again, but these posts have given me some hope.

-MNC_RN- · Jun 7, 2008

Young Pt with known hep c, drug OD and intracranial bleed, and they harvested organs?

I know what you were asking here--and it's a common term to use--but for future reference, please avoid using the word "harvest" for organ donation. The preferred term is "procurement".

OPOs are very conscious about the misconceptions the public have about the term "harvest"; especially that we let designated donors die in order to cash in on the "crop" of organs.

Thanks!