NKTI HOPE•Deceased donor•Possible match call

Tumawag ang HOPE: “May possible kidney match.” Ano na ang susunod?

Ito ang isa sa pinakahihintay—at pinakanakakakabang—tawag para sa isang deceased-donor waitlisted patient. Pero mahalagang malinaw agad: ang possible-match call ay hindi pa guarantee na matutuloy ang transplant. May compatibility testing, donor assessment at final medical clearance pa bago maging final ang desisyon.

For NKTI HOPE waitlisted patientsOfficial allocation framework checked September 2026

The most important thing to know

“Possible match” means potential opportunity—not confirmed surgery

Under the Philippine deceased-donor allocation framework, PhilNOS can generate a shortlist of potential kidney recipients after donor HLA information becomes available. Even after an organ offer reaches a transplant center, final placement still depends on tissue crossmatching and the transplant team's acceptance of the organ for that patient. So a phone call can be very significant without yet being the final green light.

Right after the call

Ano ang gagawin sa unang 10–30 minutes?

Sagutin at makinig mabuti

Confirm the patient name and write down the caller's name/unit, callback number, time of call and exact instructions. If you missed the call, return it using the verified transplant-center contact you were given.

Tanungin kung ano ang gagawin ngayon

Ask whether you should go to NKTI immediately, what entrance/unit to report to, and what time you are expected. Do not guess based on another patient's experience.

Clarify food, drink, medicines and dialysis

Do not automatically fast, skip dialysis or stop medicines. Ask the transplant team specifically what to do because timing depends on where the donor evaluation and recipient workup are in the process.

Prepare your documents and essentials

Bring your IDs, hospital/transplant records, recent results if available, medication list, dialysis information, and other documents HOPE tells you to bring. Keep your phone charged.

Arrange transport and one responsible companion

A possible-match call can move quickly. Arrange safe transport and a companion if requested, but avoid making irreversible plans until the transplant team confirms the procedure.

Do not assume

Huwag basta mag-fasting, huminto ng gamot o mag-skip ng dialysis

A transplant call is time-sensitive, but self-changing treatment can also be dangerous. Ask the HOPE/transplant team directly whether you should eat or drink, take your usual medicines, proceed with a scheduled dialysis session, or go straight to NKTI. The correct instruction can differ depending on the timing of the donor workup, crossmatch and expected surgery.

At the hospital

Ano ang posibleng mangyari pagdating sa NKTI?

Arrival and identification

The team will verify who you are and why you were called. You may be directed to a specific transplant, admitting, laboratory or assessment area depending on the current workflow.

Repeat history and physical assessment

Expect questions about fever, cough, infection, recent admission, new wounds, antibiotics, transfusions, surgeries, chest symptoms, dialysis problems or other changes since your last transplant review.

Blood tests and compatibility testing

A fresh blood sample may be needed for tissue crossmatching and other urgent tests. In the national deceased-donor allocation framework, final organ placement depends on tissue crossmatch results even after an organ offer is accepted by the transplant center.

Review of donor and recipient suitability

The transplant nephrologist/surgeon reviews available donor information and your current medical condition. A suitable match on paper is not enough if either the donor organ or recipient condition is not acceptable at that time.

Possible additional tests or dialysis

Depending on your current condition and timing, the team may request repeat ECG, chest imaging, laboratory work, or dialysis before surgery. Only follow the instructions given for that specific call.

Final go / no-go decision

The transplant only proceeds when the team is satisfied with compatibility, donor-organ suitability and your medical readiness. Until that final decision, the case remains a possible transplant—not a guaranteed operation.

Crossmatch 101

Bakit sobrang importante ng final crossmatch?

The crossmatch checks whether antibodies in the recipient may react strongly against donor cells. In simple terms, it helps the transplant team assess whether the immune system is likely to attack that donor kidney immediately.

The national policy specifically states that once a transplant center accepts an organ offer, final placement depends on tissue crossmatching results. This is why someone can receive an urgent possible-match call, come to the hospital, and still not proceed to surgery.

If you have had a previous transplant, blood transfusions, pregnancy or other sensitizing events, your antibody history may be especially relevant. Do not try to interpret PRA or crossmatch results yourself; the transplant immunology and transplant teams need to interpret them together.

Bakit puwedeng hindi matuloy kahit natawagan ka na?

A cancelled possible transplant is emotionally difficult, but it does not automatically mean may mali sa patient o na “nawala ang slot.” There are several legitimate clinical and allocation reasons.

•The tissue crossmatch is positive or otherwise not acceptable for the planned transplant.
•The donor kidney is found unsuitable after further donor evaluation or organ inspection.
•Your current health status makes surgery unsafe—for example, a significant active infection or another acute medical problem.
•A higher-priority or better-matched recipient is identified according to the applicable allocation rules before final placement.
•Logistical or organ-quality concerns make the planned transplant unsafe or impractical.

What the national allocation rules say

Hindi simpleng “first come, first served” ang kidney allocation

The Philippine framework uses factors such as geographic allocation rules, ABO compatibility, HLA matching and a donor-allocation scoring system. A zero-antigen mismatch can receive priority, while other candidates are ranked using the applicable scoring criteria.

The national rules describe PHILNOS producing a shortlist of potential recipients and moving through candidates when an organ cannot be placed. The final decision to accept a particular kidney for a patient remains with the transplant nephrologist or transplant surgeon responsible for that candidate.

Ano ang magandang nakahanda bago pa dumating ang tawag?

Phone readiness

Keep your registered number active, charged and audible. Make sure HOPE has your current contact details.

Transport plan

Know who can bring/accompany you and how you can reach NKTI quickly and safely.

Document folder

Keep IDs, transplant documents, recent clearances/results and copies in one place.

Medication list

Have an updated list or clear photos of all medicines, doses and last doses taken.

Dialysis information

Know your last dialysis date/time, dry weight, access type and dialysis-center contact if requested.

Emergency contact

Choose a family member/caregiver who understands that a possible-match call may involve waiting and may still be cancelled.

Mga tanong na puwedeng itanong sa caller

✓Possible match po ba ito, or confirmed organ offer na for me?
✓Kailangan ko po bang pumunta ngayon? Saan po ako didiretso at anong oras?
✓Pwede pa po ba akong kumain o uminom?
✓Iinumin ko pa po ba ang regular medicines ko?
✓May dialysis po ako today/tonight—tutuloy ko po ba?
✓Anong documents, IDs at laboratory results ang kailangan kong dalhin?
✓May specific companion or admission requirement po ba?
✓Anong number po ang tatawagan ko kung ma-delay ako o may biglang pagbabago sa condition ko?

If the transplant does not proceed

Hindi ibig sabihin tapos na ang chance mo

If the kidney cannot be transplanted to you this time, ask the team whether you remain active on the waiting list and whether any result, serum sample, PRA test or clearance needs updating. A no-go decision for one donor does not automatically mean you are permanently unsuitable for transplant.

Medical safety

Do not stop dialysis, skip prescribed medicines, change blood thinners, fast, or travel to the hospital based only on this article. Follow the specific instructions from NKTI HOPE/transplant staff handling the actual organ offer. If you have fever, severe shortness of breath, chest pain, active infection symptoms or another urgent medical problem when called, tell the transplant team immediately.

Official source basis

What we can confirm from the Philippine allocation framework

DOH Administrative Order 2010-0019 establishes the national deceased-donor organ-sharing system. It describes PHILNOS matching and shortlisting potential kidney recipients, organ acceptance by the transplant center, and final placement depending on tissue crossmatch. It also states that the final organ-acceptance decision remains with the transplant nephrologist or surgeon caring for the candidate. NKTI's exact bedside/admission workflow can change, so follow the current instructions given during the call.

Read DOH AO 2010-0019 ↗NKTI official website ↗

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Before the call