Kidney Donation Evaluation Process - What to Expect

According to the literature from Ohio State, below are the steps in the evaluation process to donate.  It is a little intimidating at first, but makes total sense when it comes to Scott's health and the health of the donor (you or me 🙂).  I personally also think about it as a deep dive into my own health - many of these tests I've never had, so it will be a good way to dig up anything I don't know about (or better yet confirm that I'm healthy)!

Ohio State schedules the evaluation, including 1) initial medical tests, 2) an education session for more information about the donation process, from a physical, emotional, and social standpoint, 3) meetings with a surgeon and a nephrologist, 4) a meeting with a donor advocate - this is on the social work side to ensure you understand what you are signing up for and to ensure the medical team you are doing it for the right reasons, and 5) schedule additional testing.

What to expect:

• You will need to provide a copy of your blood type or have blood drawn to confirm type.
• 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
• This involves wearing a machine that is small enough to attach to your belt with a cuff on your arm.  It takes your blood pressure throughout the day every 15-30 minutes, and every 30-60 minutes at night.
• Women need to provide a copy of their latest Pap test & breast exam / mammogram.  If it's been more than a year, you will need to schedule an appointment to update them.
• You may need to complete a glucose tolerance test to rule out Type 2 diabetes.
• This is simply fasting for 8 hours, having your blood drawn to measure fasting blood glucose level, drinking a sugary drink (only 8oz), and retesting glucose level 2 hours later.
• 24-hour urine collection (done twice) to measure what is in your urine which checks your kidney function 
• This involves collecting your urine for a full day
• Chest X-Ray and EKG to determine heart & lung health (both quick & painless)
• CT angiogram of kidneys (an X-ray test to evaluate the kidneys & blood vessels)
• A radiologist injects a contrast dye into the artery that brings blood into the kidney & uses X-ray images to watch the dye as it lfows through the blood vessels in the kidneys.
• A full day a the Transplant Clinic at Ohio State for education, meeting with the transplant coordinator, psychosocial evaluation, medical/surgical evaluations, and completion of tests
• Any additional testing the team deems necessary
• Final pre-donation evaluation 7-10 days prior to surgery