COVID-19: Clinical Advice
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The following advice is provided for clinical staff involved in facilitating organ and tissue donation in the UK.
It is general guidance so please always check the latest Government COVID-19 advice for up to date national guidance as well as any local policies which may be applicable.
Because the situation continues to change, please revisit this site to find the latest version of any guidance.
Clinical enquiries and questions should be directed as appropriate to: regional organ donation teams or Regional Clinical Leads for Organ Donation, national organ retrieval service leads, or transplant centres.
COVID-19 vaccine information for clinicians and patients
The OTDT clinical team, including lay member representatives have devised guidance for clinicians and patients with regards to COVID-19 vaccines.
We hope that you find this information useful and access alongside other information with regards to COVID–19 vaccines, including Government, JCVI and MHRA advice.
- COVID-19 Vaccine – Q&As for Clinicians and Patients - INF1559 (PDF 615KB)
- Joint statement with the British Transplant Society on COVID-19 vaccination for transplant recipients and patients waiting for a transplant.
Patients with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia occurring after vaccination
We have created guidance around the safety of organ donation and transplantation from patients with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia occurring after a COVID-19 vaccination.
Further advice for patients
- Read our coronavirus advice to transplant patients
- Frequently asked questions about transplants during coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2 assessment and screening in donors and recipients
This policy provides guidance on the SARS-CoV-2 assessment and screening of potential solid organ donors and transplant recipients. It is anticipated that it will be updated as new evidence and practices emerge.
The policy has been updated to describe circumstances where organ donation from selected donors with positive (or indeterminate) SARS-CoV-2 RNA test results may be reasonable, following virological advice, and where evolving infection (and therefore the risk of infectivity to recipients) is deemed unlikely.
SARS-CoV-2 Assessment and Screening in Organ Donors and Recipients - POL304 (PDF 842KB) (published 5 December 2022)
Reporting incidences of COVID-19
In order to capture and appropriately use and share real-time information on confirmed COVID-19 in transplanted patients and those on transplant waiting lists, please use the reporting forms in the drop down menu below.
The first form collects information at presentation and the second facilitates follow-up with an outcome at or before 30 days later.
SARS-CoV-2 cases in wait list and organ transplant patients
Information on all patients registered with NHS Blood and Transplant active on the waiting list for an organ transplant or in follow-up after receiving an organ transplant that have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
The report is updated each month.