Tissue Matching and Matchability in Kidney Transplantation

SUMMARY Success in kidney transplantation depends on the degree of tissue matching between donor and recipient. The matchability of a patient is defined as the probability that the patient will be offered a well‐matched kidney from a random donor. Matchability depends on the patient's tissue type, but also depends on the tissue types of other patients awaiting kidney transplantation. A method of estimating matchability is proposed. By simulation, some possibilities for introducing a matchability criterion into the priority scheme for recipient selection are explored, to increase the numbers of patients receiving well‐matched kidneys and to provide a more equitable allocation of kidneys to matchability groups.