FAQs ★

The decision to donate opens the door to healthy discussion and the ability to provide clarification on the topic of eye and tissue donation. Please click below to find answers to frequently asked questions.

Will my religion support tissue donation?

To find out more information, you may visit Donate Life's dedicated Organ Donation and Religion page here. As they say, "All major religions in the United States support donation as a final act of compassion and generosity."
Tissue Preservation Information

Tissues may be transported within Texas or thousands of miles away to reach a recipient in need. Approximate preservation times for the tissues Texas Procurement recovers are: - Corneas: preservation medium will keep the cornea's cells alive for up to 14 days after recovery, but must transplants occur within a week. - Bone, soft tissue, and skin: preservation techniques allow storage anywhere from 3-10 years!
Who can be a donor?

Anyone, regardless of age, race, or gender can register to become a donor. Visit here to register with the state of Texas today! Donor eligibility is determined after death and depends on many factors including federal regulations, regulatory requirements, and processor-specific criteria.
Will my medical treatment be affected if I'm known to be a donor?

No. Tissue donation is not considered until all possible efforts have been made to save your life. Strict laws exist to protect potential donors from discrimination. The doctor who certifies a patient's death is not involved with the tissue donation process in any way. Tissue donation will only be considered when all life saving measures have failed, and death has been declared.
Will the recipient be told who donated the tissue?

No. The gift is made anonymously. Specific information about the donor and their family is not made available to the recipient. In some cases, the recipient may wish to reach out to a donor family through our organization or our processor organization in order to express their thanks. If received, we will pass along this communication to the donor's family.
What tissues can be recovered?

Texas Procurement currently has the ability to recover corneas, bone, soft tissues, and skin. We are constantly striving toward trying to expand our tissue recovery options. Please note: since Texas Procurement only works on cases that occur outside of a hospital setting, major organs are not viable.
How long do I have to make a decision?

All steps in the tissue donation process should be completed as soon as feasible to ensure tissue viability. Additionally, laws and regulations specify all tissue recovery must begin within 24 hours of a decedent's last known alive time. Texas Procurement takes additional steps to ensure timely recovery of tissues, such as: - Performing all tissue recoveries on-site (i.e. - medical examiner's office, funeral home, etc.). - Not requiring transportation of your loved one. - Completing tissue recovery within 3 hours (depending on the tissues recovered).
Will I be told who received my loved one's tissues?

No. The gift is made anonymously. Specific information about the recipient is not made available to the donor family. In some cases, the donor family may wish to reach out to a recipient through our organization in order to express their thanks. If received, we will pass along this communication to the recipient through our processor organization.
Will donation interfere with funeral arrangements?

Texas Procurement strives to ensure that each donor is treated with the highest honor and greatest respect throughout the recovery process. Trained and highly skilled medical professionals of Texas Procurement recover tissue in a sterile surgical environment. Even with tissue donation, viewing, visitation, burial, and cremation are all possible.
Are there costs associated with tissue donation?

It is illegal to buy or sell human tissue. Any and all costs associated with tissue recovery is absorbed by the organizations involved in the tissue recovery. Additionally, as documented by the American Association of Tissue Banks Standards for Tissue Banking, donated tissue is considered a gift. Therefore, you will not be charged, nor will you or the estate receive any monetary compensation or valuable consideration for this gift.