Hundreds of potential kidney donors of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage can now get a simple blood test to help reduce the risk of kidney failure.
The test is part of national genetic testing available on the NHS and will help identify if potential donors carry genes that mean they have a high risk of kidney disease after donation. The NHS plans to carry out around 160 tests a year to identify people with ‘high-risk’ variants of a gene known as ‘APOL1’, common in people of Black African and Black Caribbean, and the test will help clinicians assess donor suitability and future risk of kidney failure.
Following APOL1 testing, those shown to be at high risk of developing kidney failure later in life, and who are under 60 years old, will be advised against kidney donation. The genetic test for potential donors could also help prevent future kidney disease and reduce healthcare inequalities among people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage who are more likely to develop kidney disease than those of White heritage.
Those found to be at higher risk of kidney disease will be able to receive regular monitoring and kidney check-ups as well as given advice around lifestyle changes and diet which can help reduce their risk of developing kidney disease in the future. Each year around 1,000 people choose to donate one of their kidneys to someone with kidney failure. People with two parents of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage are more likely to have kidney failure and to need a transplant than people of White heritage.
Research shows around three in five people with two high-risk genes develop kidney disease after donating a kidney. The genetic test will look for the genes in all people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage who are considering donating a kidney to help assess whether potential donors are at a higher risk of developing kidney failure in later life, providing more information about their suitability for donation – around 500 tests are expected to be undertaken over the next three years.
The test has been made available nationally after a request was made by members of Bristol Health Partners’ Kidney Disease Health Integration Team working at the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust. Testing is now available across the country with samples being sent to the South West and South East Genomic Laboratory Hubs for analysis.
The initiative is part of wider work to embed genomics in the NHS, including how genomic medicine can best serve diverse communities and reduce health disparities.
Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England, said: “It’s great news that this simple blood test on the NHS will help protect donors of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage who are selflessly coming forward to try and save lives.
“We know kidney failure disproportionately impacts people from Black African and Black Caribbean heritage and this genetic test will not only help keep potential donors safe from future kidney disease, but it will also enable NHS staff to monitor those most at risk, which could ultimately improve hundreds of lives.
“This is just the latest example of how the NHS is harnessing the full force of genomic medicine to prevent future ill health, improve the lives of patients and, at the same time, to address healthcare inequalities to improve the lives of all NHS patients.”
