How Long Does Kidney Donation Take?
If you are considering becoming a living kidney donor, you may be wondering how long the entire process will take. The answer depends on several factors, from medical testing to the scheduling of surgery. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect during the kidney donation process.
Registration: Less than 1 Hour
The first step is registering as donor through the National Kidney Registry. After you’ve provided some basic contact information, you’ll be asked to fill out a comprehensive medical questionnaire, which will take approximately 45 minutes.
At the end of the questionnaire, you’ll select a transplant center then wait to hear from them, which usually takes a few days.
Evaluation and Testing: 30–60 days
The next step is a series of medical tests that check your kidney function and overall health to ensure that donating a kidney will not negatively affect you.
Some of these tests include:
- Blood Tests to check kidney function, blood type, and overall health.
- Urine Tests to measure kidney function, such as the 24-hour urine test.
- Imaging such as CT scans or ultrasounds to look at the structure of your kidneys.
- Cardiovascular Tests to check heart health and ensure you’re in good shape for surgery.
For more detailed information on the specific tests, see our blog post What Tests Do Kidney Donors Have to Take Before Transplant?
The amount of time these tests require varies considerably depending on a number of factors. While testing can sometimes be completed in a single day, it can take longer—anywhere from weeks to months—if tests need to be repeated or yield unclear or abnormal results. It also depends on whether routine screenings, like a mammogram or a colonoscopy, must be completed.
The timeline also depends on the center. Each transplant center has its own timeline and capacity for testing. Larger centers often have more staff and can complete testing faster, while smaller centers may space out testing due to staff limitations.
For more information, see our blog post How Long Does Kidney Donor Testing Take?
Approval & Surgery: 1–3 months
After testing has been completed, most approved donors are cleared to move forward with donation within one to three months.
Once you are approved as a donor, you will work with your transplant center to select a surgery date. The time between approval and surgery varies widely because it is based on the donor’s preferred timing, but in general it can range from one to three months
Pre-op usually takes one day, and kidney removal surgery (nephrectomy) usually takes about two to three hours but can take anywhere from one to five hours. Learn more about kidney donation surgery.
Recovery: 2–6 weeks
The recovery period from kidney donation surgery is typically short. You’ll generally need to spend between one and four days in the hospital, followed by a few weeks of recovery at home.
Most donors resume normal activities within a few weeks.