The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is a national system in the U.S. that manages the fair and efficient distribution of donated organs for transplantation. It operates under a government contract and oversees a registry that matches donated organs with patients in need based on medical criteria, urgency, and fairness. The goal of the OPTN is to save lives by ensuring organs are allocated ethically and transparently, while supporting policies and standards to improve transplant outcomes and increase availability.