Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTN) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CCTN Practice Questions and Study Guide

The process of histocompatibility is fundamentally focused on examining human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) to determine compatibility between a donor and a recipient for organ transplantation. HLAs are proteins found on the surface of cells that play a crucial role in the immune system's ability to recognize which cells belong in the body and which do not. A close match in HLAs between the donor and recipient can significantly reduce the risk of transplant rejection, which is a critical concern in transplantation practices.

Successful transplantation relies heavily on this matching process; therefore, histocompatibility testing serves as an essential step in the overall transplant procedure, ensuring that the transplanted organ is accepted by the recipient's immune system, leading to better transplant outcomes.

The other options, such as testing liver function, evaluating mental health, and assessing anatomical suitability, while important in the overall evaluation process, do not specifically pertain to histocompatibility. These assessments serve different purposes in the transplant process, focusing on the health and suitability of the donor organ rather than the immune compatibility that histocompatibility specifically addresses.