Volunteer with the OPTN
Every 10 minutes, someone is added to the transplant waiting list. As a member of the donation and transplant community you have an impact on the lives of these people every day.
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is a unique public-private partnership that links all professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system. Also crucial to the system are individuals who sign organ donor cards, people who comment on policy proposals and countless volunteers who support donation and transplantation, among many others.
A driving force of the OPTN is to improve the U.S. system so that more life-saving organs are available for
transplant. Patient safety is at the forefront of activities at transplant hospitals, organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and labs.
The OPTN acts through its Board of Directors and committees, who bring a wealth of commitment and technical knowledge to guide us. Committees address issues of concern in the transplant community. The board establishes and maintains transplant policies (operational rules) and bylaws (membership requirements) that govern the OPTN.
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As of September 16, 2024, OPTN membership included the following:
| Type of OPTN Member | Number |
|---|---|
| Transplant Centers | 248 |
| Organ Procurement Organizations | 56 |
| Independent | 49 |
| Hospital Based | 7 |
| Histocompatibility Laboratories | 138 |
| Independent | 50 |
| Hospital Based | 88 |
| Public Organizations | 9 |
| Individual Members | 15 |
| Medical Scientific Organizations | 12 |
| Business Members | 20 |
| Total | 403 |
NOTE: There are 7 OPTN members that operate both transplant centers and in-house OPOs and 88 that operate both transplant centers and in-house histocompatibility laboratories. These members are included in the count of transplant centers, operating OPOs, and/or laboratories. For this reason, the total number of members is less than the sum of the different categories.
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) was awarded the initial OPTN contract on September 30, 1986, and continues to administer the OPTN today.