How do you donate a kidney?

Today, thanks to altruistic kidney donations through Matnat Chaim, hundreds of people in Israel receive a new lease on life every year.
If you have ever considered donating a kidney, many questions may have crossed your mind – Is it safe? How long does it take? Will I be able to continue living normally afterwards?
While the kidney donation process is thorough and meticulous, ultimately – the hardest part is making the decision to embark on the journey.

How long does the process take?

The testing process takes 3 to 6 months on average, and sometimes longer, depending on the donor’s health and the hospital.
To make it easier for donors and avoid unnecessary tests, the process progresses gradually; each stage is performed only after the previous stage has been completed successfully.

Stages in the Process

Step 1

Initial questionnaire

The first step is filling out a detailed medical questionnaire, which includes information about personal and family medical history.
The purpose of the questionnaire is to perform an initial screening and ensure the donor is suitable to proceed to the next stage.

Step 1

Step 2

Initial tests at Kupat Holim

If you are found eligible according to the initial questionnaire, you will be asked to undergo several basic medical tests at your kupa (HMO), including:

Blood tests (blood type, blood count, chemistry).
General urine tests and culture (sometimes a 24-hour urine collection is also requested).
Blood pressure measurement.
Kidney and abdominal ultrasound.
Summary letter from the family doctor.

Sending the tests:
After receiving the results, they should be sent to Matnat Chaim by email (Tormim@kilya.org.il) or fax (072-2555757).
Important: Please keep a copy of all tests.

Step 2

Step 3

Matching donor to recipient

If the test results are acceptable, at this stage a donor is matched to a patient in need of a transplant. The initial match is based mainly on the blood type of the donor and the patient, but even if there is no immediate match, a suitable patient may be found for you later.
This stage is important because the patient's HMO funds the expensive tests for the donor from here onwards.

Step 3

Step 4

Contacting the transplant center

Matnat Chaim refers the patient and donor to a transplant center (the hospital where the transplant is performed), and an appointment will be scheduled for a meeting and a compatibility test. Each transplant center has a transplant coordinator who manages the treatment during the transplant preparation process. She will refer you to the required tests, schedule appointments for the various committees, and assist with the process as needed.

Step 4

Step 5

Tests at the hospital

The next stage is a series of advanced medical tests at the hospital, including:

Tissue typing (Crossmatch) – a test checking that there are no antibodies between the donor's and recipient's blood.
CT scan, chest X-ray, additional blood tests, and 24 hour urine collection (if not done earlier).
Psychological evaluation – to ensure the donor understands the implications of donation.
Meetings with a nephrologist, transplant coordinator, and other doctors.
Additional tests may be required depending on the donor's age, health, initial test results, etc.

Step 5

Step 6

Ministry of Health approval

After completing all tests, final approval must be obtained from the National Transplant Center at the Ministry of Health.

The approval committees include:

Psychological evaluation – a meeting with a psychologist to evaluate the donor's fitness.
Evaluation committee – a meeting with a team of experts (doctor, lawyer, social worker, and psychologist) to ensure the donor is acting out of his or her own free will without expectation of compensation, and understands the nature of the process and its implications.

In the case of a donation within the family, an internal hospital committee will be held instead of the Ministry of Health's evaluation committee.

Step 6

Step 7

Surgery and recovery

The surgery date will be scheduled after approval from the Ministry of Health. Before the surgery, a meeting with an anesthesiologist and more blood tests will be scheduled.

You arrive at the hospital on the day of the surgery or the evening before.

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
In most cases, the surgery is done laparoscopically (minimally invasive), involving 3-4 small incisions in the abdomen.
Hospitalization is relatively short, and most donors are discharged within 3-4 days from the hospital.
Gradual return to routine – most donors return to full activity within a few weeks.

Step 7

“I have quite a few friends who donated a kidney and some complained about all the medical tests they had to undergo. I chose to look at it differently – I realized that the tests protect my health, and I was truly happy for every test that came back normal. After the age of 50, that is not something to take for granted!”

Meirav, kidney donor

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you function normally with one kidney?
Yes! The body adapts quickly, and almost all donors return to a completely normal lifestyle.

Is there an age limit for donating?
Donation is generally possible from age 27 (for women, only after they have finished having children). There is no maximum age limit for kidney donation, but the donor must be very healthy and pass all required tests.

Is it dangerous?
Kidney donation is a safe medical procedure, with a very low complication rate mostly related to the surgery itself (such as infection). In Israel, hundreds of people undergo the surgery every year, and quickly return to their routine.

Summary

Kidney donation is an organized, gradual, and controlled process, ensuring that the donor is fully fit and receives all the necessary information and support.
Matnat Chaim is with you all the way, providing professional, personal, and medical guidance.

Want to join our circle of donors?
Take our quick quiz and see if you are a candidate to donate a kidney!

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