RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF INFECTIOUS-DISEASE TESTING PRACTICES BY ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED-STATES

Background. Information related to infectious disease testing policies and practices of organ procurement organizations in the United States does not currently exist. Methods. A total of 63 organ procurement or ganizations in the United States were surveyed during May 1996. Partic ipants responded to a detailed questionnaire concerning infectious dis ease tests performed for tissue and solid organ donors and policies re lated to the reporting and notification of positive test results. Resu lts. The response rate was 77.8%. The majority of testing is performed by hospital laboratories with an expected turnaround time of 5 hr or less by 71% of organ procurement organizations. Almost all routinely p erform screening tests for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C v irus, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, human T lymphocyte virus I, and hepat itis B surface antigen. Other tests are performed with greater variabi lity. Although the majority of organ procurement organizations perform confirmatory tests when screening tests are positive, 35% do not perf orm confirmatory testing or do so only sporadically, There are a wide range of policies concerning the subsequent reporting of positive infe ctious disease tests and to whom results should be reported. Conclusio ns. Infectious disease testing policies of organ procurement organizat ions, particularly for solid organs, demonstrate variability in interp retation and perceived significance of positive test results, the init iation or need for reflex and confirmatory testing, the reporting of p ositive results, and to whom positive test results should be reported. There is a need for a consistent national policy for appropriate infe ctious disease testing and reporting of results.