How are organs chosen for transplant?

So how are organs chosen for transplant? More than 19 million people are on the UK's organ donor register, but only a small number will eventually become organ donors, BBC News reports. People have to die in the correct circumstances to ensure the organ is preserved for donation to be even considered. If donation is a possibility then two questions dominate: "Can the organs be used safely in anybody?" and "Who are they allocated to?" First there is an assessment of the quality of the organs. Transplant teams use their medical experience to decide whether an organ is functioning well at the time of death or if it is likely to improve after transplantation. Being an alcoholic does not mean an organ fails this test. However, it is more likely to prevent a liver being donated than other organs such as the kidney. Meanwhile a team of 250 specialist nurses based at hospitals across the UK assess the suitability of the donor. It involves contacting the potential donor's GP for their medical history, filling in any blanks with the family and performing blood tests for infections such as hepatitis and HIV. For full version go to