Organ Donation

Potential donor audit

UK Transplant's national potential donor audit (PDA) began in January 2003, as part of a series of measures to improve organ donation.

The principal aim of this audit is to determine the potential number of solid organ donors in the UK. Data are collected on every patient death in an intensive care unit. From 1 April 2006, patients aged over 75 years and cardiothoracic Intensive Care Units have no longer been audited.

All patients for whom death was diagnosed following brain stem tests can be identified. The reasons why potential donors did not become actual solid organ donors can then be investigated.