Covid-19 testing is no longer mandatory for most organ transplant donors and recipients, except for lung transplants. This change aims to reduce organ wastage, as waiting for results previously delayed allocations. The decision reflects declining Covid-19 cases and evidence that vaccination status doesn’t impact transplant outcomes. NEW DELHI: Covid-19 testing will no longer be mandatory for asymptomatic donors and recipients undergoing organ transplantation — whether from living or deceased donors — except in the case of lung transplants, where RT-PCR testing will remain compulsory for both donor and recipient.Issuing revised national transplant-specific guidelines, Dr Anil Kumar, Director of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), circulated an office memorandum on Tuesday to all states and Union Territories.For symptomatic cases, the decision to conduct Covid-19 testing has been left to the treating clinician’s discretion, based on clinical assessment. Other Covid-related precautions will continue to follow the Health Ministry’s Public Health Division guidelines issued from time to time.Election Results 2025Bihar election results: Bihar votes for ‘sushasan’; NDA cruising towards clean sweepWhere is Jan Suraaj? Prashant Kishor’s party’s ambitious debut fails to show up in trendsBihar election results: NDA stuns Mahagathbandhan in Muslim dominated seats; JD(U) surgesBiharAlliance ViewiParty ViewSeats: 243L + WMajority: 122NDA0MGB0OTH0Leads + Wins: 243/243NDA LEADINGExperience Bihar Election Results in 3D A new interactive way to explore constituenciesSource: PValueSpeaking to TOI, Dr Kumar said, “If either the donor or the recipient tests positive for Covid-19, the entire donation process has to be abandoned, even when the family’s consent and declaration formalities have been completed.”The revised norms were finalised based on recommendations of the Apex Technical Committee of NOTTO and expert feedback. Officials said the changes come amid evidence that Covid-19 vaccination status of the donor or recipient has not impacted transplant outcomes, and the criterion is not being implemented under any government programme.The memorandum also observed that waiting for Covid-19 test results often delayed deceased donor organ allocation, affecting the timely utilisation of viable organs.According to the national Covid-19 dashboard, only 30,542 cases have been reported across India since January 2025 — a sharp decline compared to the pandemic years. During the peak phase, nearly 10% of organs were discarded due to positive Covid-19 results, officials said.Recognising that organ donation rates in India remain among the lowest globally, NOTTO stated that organs from asymptomatic donors were often rejected solely because of positive Covid-19 tests, leading to avoidable loss of viable organs and tissues that could have saved or improved many lives.According to NOTTO website, in 2024, a total of 18,911 organ transplants were carried out across India. About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWashington Reports Encouraging Momentum As India-US Trade Talks Advance Toward A Year-End AgreementAsim Munir Steps In Amid Islamabad Terror Attack, Persuades Sri Lanka To Continue With Cricket Tour‘No Impunity For Terrorists’: Shashi Tharoor Endorses Govt Probe As Red Fort Blast Claims 13th LifeDelhi Blast: Security Forces Demolish House of Red Fort Bombing Accused Umar Nabi in Pulwama‘Not An Apologist For BJP’: Shashi Tharoor On Row Over Backing Modi Govt During Op SindoorPune Road Accident: At Least 6 Dead, Several Injured After Truck Rams Multiple Vehicles’Message to world’: Amit Shah vows strictest punishment for Delhi Terror Attack culpritsAfghanistan FM Muttaqi Slams Pakistan’s ‘Illogical’ Demands After Talks Collapse In TurkeyMultiple IEDs, 32 Vehicles: Agencies Uncover Plan For Serial Car Explosions In Delhi Blast Probe30,000 Troops, 25 Warships, Fighter Jets: India Concludes Tri-Service Drill Trishul | Op Sindoor 2.0123PhotostoriesCrowds but no votes: What went wrong with Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar election push?Running in a 400+ AQI? 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NEW DELHI: Covid-19 testing will no longer be mandatory for asymptomatic donors and recipients undergoing organ transplantation — whether from living or deceased donors — except in the case of lung transplants, where RT-PCR testing will remain compulsory for both donor and recipient.Issuing revised national transplant-specific guidelines, Dr Anil Kumar, Director of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), circulated an office memorandum on Tuesday to all states and Union Territories.For symptomatic cases, the decision to conduct Covid-19 testing has been left to the treating clinician’s discretion, based on clinical assessment. Other Covid-related precautions will continue to follow the Health Ministry’s Public Health Division guidelines issued from time to time.Speaking to TOI, Dr Kumar said, “If either the donor or the recipient tests positive for Covid-19, the entire donation process has to be abandoned, even when the family’s consent and declaration formalities have been completed.”The revised norms were finalised based on recommendations of the Apex Technical Committee of NOTTO and expert feedback. Officials said the changes come amid evidence that Covid-19 vaccination status of the donor or recipient has not impacted transplant outcomes, and the criterion is not being implemented under any government programme.The memorandum also observed that waiting for Covid-19 test results often delayed deceased donor organ allocation, affecting the timely utilisation of viable organs.According to the national Covid-19 dashboard, only 30,542 cases have been reported across India since January 2025 — a sharp decline compared to the pandemic years. During the peak phase, nearly 10% of organs were discarded due to positive Covid-19 results, officials said.Recognising that organ donation rates in India remain among the lowest globally, NOTTO stated that organs from asymptomatic donors were often rejected solely because of positive Covid-19 tests, leading to avoidable loss of viable organs and tissues that could have saved or improved many lives.According to NOTTO website, in 2024, a total of 18,911 organ transplants were carried out across India.
