Preparing for Kidney Transplantation - The Recipient Protocol

Transplant and donor patients must undergo the transplant protocol and a cross match test prior to admission to the hospital to confirm that the recipient and donor are compatible.

For the recipient, the transplant protocol consists of lab work, X-Rays and consults with specialists:

Lab work required:

• Complete blood count (CBC) and Blood Type
• Blood chemistry: Glucose, Urea, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Creatinine, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Calcium, Liver function tests (LFT), uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein.
• Coagulation tests: Prothrombin time, Partial Thromboplastin time, Fibrinogen
• Urinalysis, Urine culture
• 24 hr. creatinine clearance test and test for albuminuria (only in preemptive transplant patients, or specific situations ie. in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) to determine basal protein loss).
• Pharyngeal culture
• Tuberculin skin test and/or sputum and urine staining and/or Lowenstein-Jensen culture and/or PCR (to test for tuberculosis).
• Serology for Hepatitis B, C, HIV, CMV, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test.
• Immunology tests: Immunoglobulin A, E, M, G. Complement C3/C4 levels, anti-nuclear antibody, anti-DNA antibody, anti-basal membrane antibody and others if necessary.
• Prostate Specific Antigen (in males 40 yrs. and older)
• Pap smear (in females)

X-Rays and Imaging:

• Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound
• Cystogram (an x-ray examination of the urinary bladder in selected patients, such as diabetic ones to see for bladder position, shape, voiding problems, etc.)
• Gastroduodenal series/Endoscopy. Barium Colon Enema/Colonoscopy (patients 50 yrs. and older)
• Paranasal sinus x-ray
• Echocardiogram with or without stress test
• Chest x-ray
• Electrocardiogram
• Spirometry- (measuring of the breath- the most common of the Pulmonary Function Tests) only necessary in specific patients, such as smokers.

Consults with Specialists:

• Cardiologist
• Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)
• Psychiatrist
• Dentist
• Gynecologist
• Urologist
• Gastroenterologist
• And others if required