History of OPOs

In the early years of organ donation and transplantation, organ procurement was a local or regional endeavor. Transplant centers either recovered organs from patients at their facility or through connections with donor hospitals based on relationships between doctors or geography. The system was enhancing the lives of those who had access to transplanted organs, yet it had its limitations.

Over the years, the need for organs grew and medical advancements made transplantation a reality for far more people. The development of immunosuppressive drug therapy also meant patients were living much longer and acheiving far better health after their transplant. It was clear that donation of organs was not sufficient to address the need - a sad fact that continues today - and that a centralized network to share organs and increase access to transplantation was necessary.

In 1984, the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) was signed into law. This law created the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) for matching donor organs to waiting recipients. The OPTN includes all OPOs and transplant centers and is managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), located in Richmond, Virginia.

The OPTN standardized the process through which organs are donated and shared across the country. It created the system of OPOs that are federally-designated and serve communities in specific areas in the country. These 11 geographic areas are known as regions.

To obtain data within your region, please click here. Most importantly, the OPTN ensures fair and equitable access to donated organs and provides a framework for bringing hope within reach to people in organ failure across the United States.

For more information on the history of transplantation, click here.