Kidney Transplant Evaluation & Testing

Depend on University Health for thorough evaluation and testing to determine if you are a kidney transplant candidate.

What to Expect

After your first visit with your care team, transplant kidney specialist and surgeon, you’ll have a pre-transplant evaluation. You must go through the assessment to become a candidate for a kidney transplant.

During the evaluation, you’ll have many tests. Your test results will help determine if transplantation is the best and safest treatment option for you.

Transplant Evaluation and Tests

Rely on your care team at University Health to complete a physical exam and record your medical and surgical history. Additional diagnostic tests may include:

• Bladder studies – Examines your bladder using an X-ray and/or camera
• Blood tests – Checks your blood count, blood and tissue type, blood chemistries and immune system function
• Cardiac stress test – Shows how well your heart works during physical activity
• Chest X-ray – Determines your lung and lower respiratory tract health and looks for infections
• Colonoscopy – Looks for problems or changes in your bowel, for recipients age 50 and over, signaling cancer
• Dental exam – Assesses the health of your teeth and gums
• Echocardiogram – Uses ultrasound to show how well your heart pumps
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) – Measures your heart’s electrical impulses to keep blood flowing
• Panel reactive antibody (PRA) – Identifies antibodies that would cause you to reject a kidney
• Tissue typing – Helps find a matching kidney

Exams for Women

If you’re a woman, you’ll also need the following tests:

• Mammogram – Uses X-ray to look for signs of breast cancer
• Pap smear – Collects cervical cells to detect abnormalities and cervical cancer

Exam for Men

If you’re a man, you’ll also need:

• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test – Measures the level of PSA in your blood to screen for prostate cancer

Test Results

Results from your pre-transplant evaluation and testing will determine if you are a candidate for a kidney transplant. Your pre-transplant coordinator will keep you informed of your progress toward selection for the transplant list.