Why Choose the NKR for Your Kidney Transplant?

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If you need a kidney transplant, the National Kidney Registry gives you the best chance to find a living donor, reduce your wait time, and receive a well-matched kidney. The NKR offers the following advantages for kidney patients:

Help Finding a Living Donor

  • Microsites: The NKR offers kidney patients a free personalized website to share their story, attract potential donors, and give them an easy way to start the testing process.
  • Coaches: Microsite patients have access to free coaching from mentors who have been through the donor search and transplant process and can offer valuable advice, suggestions, and support.
  • Donor Shield: The NKR offers comprehensive support and financial assistance for donors, removing barriers to donation and increasing the chances they will move forward with the donation.

High-Quality Centers

  • NKR Member Centers: Choose from over 100 NKR Member Centers across 35 states and the District of Columbia.
  • Strict standards: All NKR Member Centers agree to a stringent set of standards to ensure patient and donor safety and deliver the highest-quality care.
  • Remote donation: Donors can be tested and have donation surgery at any NKR center—they don’t have to travel to yours.

Better Matches

  • Latest matching technology: The NKR uses the most advanced technology to find the best matches between donors and patients.
  • Large pool of living donors: The NKR has the largest pool of potential living donors in the U.S., giving you a better chance of finding a match.
  • Voucher Program: The Standard Voucher Program lets someone donate on your behalf even if they are not a direct match.
  • Faster matching process: Most people on the deceased donor waitlist wait at least three and up to 10 years for a deceased donor kidney. As of 2025, the median wait time from activation in the NKR system to transplant is 1.9 months.

Better Outcomes

  • Lower graft failure: NKR-facilitated kidney transplants have a 14% lower chance of graft failure than non-NKR kidney transplants at one and three years post-transplant.
  • Lower patient mortality: Kidney transplants facilitated by the NKR have a 31% lower patient mortality rate at one year post-transplant and a 21% lower rate at three years compared to non-NKR transplants.
  • Longer-lasting transplants: Living donor kidneys typically last twice as long as deceased donor kidneys—between 20 and 40 years compared to 10-15 years for a deceased donor kidney.
  • Potential reduction in immunosuppressive medications: Patients who receive an excellent kidney match may be able to reduce the dosage of immunosuppressive medications taken after the transplant.

To get started with the transplant process through the NKR, register now.