In the U.S. more than 100,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant, but only 17,000 of them will receive a kidney this year.  Of those, only 6,000 come from living donors.  The Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation is rewriting that story.  You can help bring this vision to life by becoming a living kidney donor, financial supporter, or advocate for paired kidney donation.

Transplantation vs. Dialysis

Dialysis often takes a huge physical and emotional toll on patients and their families, extending the patient’s life without providing additional quality of life.  The average patient lives 10 years longer with a transplant compared to dialysis, with a higher quality of living.

What is Paired Donation?

When a patient needs a kidney transplant, family, friends and loved ones often step forward to offer the gift of living kidney donation.  Many times, the donor is not compatible with the recipient.  Paired donation matches one incompatible donor-recipient pair to another pair in the same situation, allowing for a transplant swap.

$750M savings

in healthcare costs for a pool of 4,000 potential recipients Source

50% increase

in matches by including compatible pairs in the paired donation registry Source

26.6 years

survival rate from a living kidney compared to 14.7 yrs. from a deceased donor (graft half-life) Source

More Than 3,100 Registered Pairs

The APKD uses a Nobel Price-winning Algorithm to match one incompatible pair with another.  A scoring rubric, developed by a team of healthcare professionals, is used to help find the best match possible.  The first step is to find a living donor.  If you do not already have one, speak with your healthcare team for resources on finding a living donor, and to learn more about paired donation.  Once you have a living donor who has been confirmed as incompatible, you may register with the APKD.

Donor Kristen L. with her recipient father Gene

Recipient Matt with donor wife Sandra

Donor Malou with recipient husband Jay

Altruistic donor Natalie with Jay

The APKD serves kidney patients through technology, education and generosity.

When a patient is in need of a kidney transplant, family, friends and loved ones may step forward to offer the gift of a living kidney donation. Many times, the donor is not compatible with the recipient. Paired donation matches one incompatible donor/recipient pair to another pair in the same situation. Altruistic, or Good Samaritan, donors can choose to donate without an intended kidney recipient and are paired with the best possible match.

Donate Today!