Physical Exam

NMDP^SM relies on partnerships with third-party providers to perform physical examinations of potential donors. As a third-party provider of physical exams, you play a key role in the clinical assessment of a potential donor. This is important as it helps to ensure donor and recipient safety.

Either a licensed physician or appropriately licensed mid-level practitioner (nurse practitioner or physician assistant) performs the physical exam. Two independent medical directors use your assessment with other information to determine donor suitability.

The physical examination assesses factors that may affect the potential donor’s safety and identify any conditions that may increase risk to the recipient or affect the quality of the product.

Physical exam process

• Accept donor referral and schedule physical exam
• Complete the Proposal/Acceptance Letter for Third Party Providers (if included)
• Perform the physical exam
• Complete required physical exam lab work and ensure that samples are drawn (if asked)
• Draw additional blood samples for kits and ship to specified locations (if requested)
• Email or fax as soon as possible:
  • Standardized NMDP Physical Exam Report and Addendum
  • All physical exam lab reports
  • Chest X-ray (CXR) results (radiologist interpretation) (if performed)
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG) interpretation/tracing (if performed)
• Submit invoice to receive NMDP payment for your services

Note: More specific testing information will be provided along with the donor referral.

What the physical exam includes

• History and physical exam (H and P)
• Venous assessment
• Blood tests including:
  • Complete blood count (CBC) with differential and platelets
  • Chemistry/metabolic profiles including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
  • Serum pregnancy
• Other elective medical tests (such as chest X-ray, EKG or urinalysis (UA)) may also be requested

Note: Blood tests must be performed in a laboratory certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).