If a relative or spouse who is willing to donate is not a match for donation, a paired donation is an option. A paired donation happens when a person who needs a transplant is not a match to the person who is eligible to donate. The pair is then matched with a similar couple, who also do not match each other.
An example is this: Recipient A and their spouse, Donor A do not match. Recipient B and their spouse, Donor B do not match each other. Recipient A receives Donor B’s kidney and Recipient B receives Donor A’s kidney, all on the same day.
If a paired donation is not an option, the next option is the traditional waiting list, where patients wait for an organ from a deceased donor.
