What is the donor readiness score?

The donor readiness score (DRS) is a tool in NMDP MatchSource^® that provides transplant centers with an individualized estimate of a donor's likelihood to be available for confirmatory typing (CT). The DRS is represented as a percentage, with higher percentages indicating a higher likelihood of availability.

The DRS is calculated using a validated algorithm that accounts for a range of individual donor characteristics, including demographic information (like age, sex and race group) and engagement with the NMDP Registry^SM. The DRS should be interpreted as a forecast or a prediction rather than a guarantee. A donor's availability at the time of a request can be impacted by illness, travel, family obligations and many other complex, difficult-to-predict human variables.

NMDP regularly evaluates and enhances the DRS model to improve its accuracy. A donor's DRS changes in real time as any of its inputs change.

By providing a prediction of a donor's availability for CT, the DRS can help to determine which donor(s) to request. Transplant centers can use the DRS to help break a tie in the case of multiple suitable donor options and to help select which donors to request for CT in urgent cases. Keep in mind that the DRS is not intended to replace any medical guidelines.

If you have questions about the DRS, email our NMDP Search Strategies team at search-strategies@nmdp.org.