CCTN Organ Procurement and Donor Evaluation 3

Question 1

Which statement best describes the expanded criteria donor (ECD) designation for kidneys?

Accepted Answer

ECD kidneys come from donors with risk factors associated with higher graft failure rates but may still benefit recipients

Answer

ECD kidneys come from donors with specific risk factors (age ≥60, or age 50–59 with comorbidities) that are associated with higher graft failure rates but may still provide benefit over dialysis.

Question 2

Warm ischemia time in transplantation refers to which period?

Accepted Answer

Time from circulatory arrest to organ cooling in DCD, or from cross-clamp to reperfusion in DBD

Answer

Warm ischemia time is when the organ lacks adequate perfusion at body temperature — in DCD donors this begins at circulatory arrest, and minimizing it is critical.

Question 3

What does 'first-person consent' mean in the context of organ donation in the US?

Accepted Answer

An individual's documented decision to donate (e.g., on a driver's license) is legally binding

Answer

First-person consent means a person's registered decision to donate is legally binding and cannot be overridden by family, though family collaboration is still encouraged.

Question 4

Which apnea test finding confirms brain death during donor evaluation?

Accepted Answer

No spontaneous respirations with PaCO2 rising to ≥60 mmHg or 20 mmHg above baseline

Answer

A positive apnea test for brain death requires no spontaneous respirations despite a PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg or 20 mmHg above baseline, confirming absent brainstem function.

Question 5

Which donor characteristic increases the risk of disease transmission to the transplant recipient?

Accepted Answer

Recent high-risk behaviors for bloodborne infections

Answer

Recent high-risk behaviors (IV drug use, unprotected sex with multiple partners) increase the risk of bloodborne disease transmission despite negative donor testing.

CCTN - Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse Practice Test

CCTN - Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse Practice Test

CCTN Organ Procurement and Donor Evaluation 3