Excerpt from PHS guideline for reducing HIV, HBV and HCV transmission through organ transplantation

The intent of the PHS guideline is to improve organ transplant recipient outcomes by reducing the risk of unexpected HIV, HBV and HCV transmission, while preserving the availability of high-quality organs. An evidence-based approach was used to identify the most relevant studies and reports on which to formulate the recommendations. This excerpt from the guideline comprises (1) the executive summary; (2) 12 criteria for assessment of risk factors for recent HIV, HBV and HCV infection; (3) 34 recommendations on risk assessment (screening) of living and deceased donors; testing of living and deceased donors; informed consent discussion with transplant candidates; testing of recipients pre- and posttransplant; collection and/or storage of donor and recipient specimens; and tracking and reporting of HIV, HBV and HCV; and (4) 20 recommendations for further study. For the PHS guideline in its entirety, including the background, methodology and primary evidence underlying the recommendations, refer to the source document in Public Health Reports, accessible at http://www.publichealthreports.org/issuecontents.cfm?Volume=128&Issue=4. For more in-depth information on the evidence base, including tables of all study-level data, refer to Solid Organ Transplantation and the Probability of Transmitting HIV, HBV or HCV: A Systematic Review to Support an Evidence-Based Guideline, accessible at http://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/12164/.