What is the Donor Readiness Score?

A tool to help guide donor selection

The Donor Readiness Score (DRS) is a tool in NMDP MatchSource® that provides your transplant center with an individualized estimate of a donor's likelihood to be available for confirmatory typing (CT).

The DRS can help you decide which donors to request for CT, especially in cases when a patient has more than one suitable donor.

Watch the video to learn more about the DRS from NMDPSM immunogenetic Specialist Melissa Glenn.

Understanding the Donor Readiness Score

The DRS is represented as a percentage in MatchSource. A higher percentage indicates a higher likelihood of CT availability.

Interpret the DRS as a forecast or prediction to help you make decisions rather than a guarantee.

Even with a high DRS, a donor's availability at the time of a request can be impacted by illness, travel, family obligations or other complex, difficult-to-predict human variables.

Keep key information about the DRS at your fingertips. Download the DRS PDF.

Screenshot of a computer screen showing NMDP MatchSource and the Donor Readiness Score.

Top ways your transplant center can use the DRS

  1. Break a tie in the case of multiple suitable donor options. If your donor search returns multiple similar donors, use the DRS to select the donor(s) more likely to be available.
  2. Select donors to request for CT in urgent cases. If your patient needs an urgent transplant and has multiple suitable options, requesting one or more donors with a higher DRS may help them to get to transplant more quickly.

Remember, the DRS is not intended to replace any medical guidelines.

How the DRS is calculated

The DRS uses enhanced, dynamic inputs that leverage machine learning and AI to predict how a donor may respond to CT requests. It's calculated using a validated algorithm that accounts for a range of individual donor characteristics, such as:

Engagement and insights

  • Confirmation of commitment
  • nmdp.org interactions
  • My NMDP account creation

Donor journey data

  • Prior CT request outcomes
  • Time since last CT request

Demographics

  • Age
  • Sex
  • Race group

    Predicting human behavior is inherently challenging. NMDP regularly evaluates and enhances the DRS model to improve its accuracy.

    Questions about the DRS?

    Contact your NMDP Clinical HLA Services partner or email search-strategies@nmdp.org.