Who Can Donate a Liver?

Living-Donor Liver Transplant Criteria and Requirements

Living-donor liver transplants would not be possible without those who choose to donate a portion of their liver to enhance the life of a person with liver disease. This is possible because of the liver’s unique ability to regenerate, or regrow, after donation.

Register to Become a Living Donor

Who Can Become a Living-Liver Donor?

A healthy donor must:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 55.
• Be in good physical and mental health.
• Have a BMI less than or equal to 32.
• Not engage in active ongoing drug or substance use.
• Have an unselfish desire to contribute to another person’s life in a healthy way.
• Be in general good health with no history of:
• Liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatitis.
• Significant diseases involving the other organs: lung, kidney, and heart.
• Pulmonary hypertension.
• HIV.
• Active malignant cancers.

To become a living-liver donor, you must have a compatible blood type.

A potential donor must pass the following exams/screenings:

• Blood tests.
• Chest x-rays.
• CT scan.
• Tissue matching.

How Can I Become a Living-Liver Donor?

To become a living donor, you do not have to be related to the recipient. The liver will regrow back to the original size in about three months post-donation. The Living Donor Transplant team understands that every transplant is different, and they will be there with you every step of the way.