Definition of UNOS

UNOS: Acronym for the United Network for Organ Sharing, the nationwide umbrella for transplantation organ sharing in the U.S.

UNOS states that it is "a private, not-for-profit, membership corporation qualified as a charitable organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the IRC. UNOS administers the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and the U.S. Scientific Registry on Organ Transplantation under contracts with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Scientific Registry is the most complete medical database in the world, tracking all solid organ transplants since October 1, 1987.

"Through the UNOS Organ Center, organ donors are matched to waiting recipients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Through its policies, UNOS ensures that all patients have a fair chance at receiving the organ they need - regardless of age, sex, race, lifestyle, religion, financial or social status. UNOS members include every transplant program, organ procurement organization and tissue typing laboratory in the United States. Policies governing the transplant community are developed by the UNOS membership through a series of regional meetings, deliberations at the national committee level and final approval by a 40 member board of directors, comprised of medical professionals, transplant recipients and donor family members."