What is Tissue Donation?

Tissue donation refers to the removal, processing, storage, and distribution of viable tissues from non-heart beating donors.

Tissue donation is different from organ donation in that tissues are processed and can be stored for a certain period of time. Tissue donations can occur from 15 to 24 hours after death. Organs must be transplanted as quickly as possible.

All of the blood cells are removed from tissue so a cross match with a recipient is unnecessary.

Trained recovery technicians perform tissue recoveries. Training emphasizes sterile surgical technique.

For more on organ recovery, see organ donations.

next page: Types of Tissue Donations