Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be transmitted by solid organ and some forms of tissue transplantation. Although routine screening of organ and tissue donors for anti-HIV antibodies was implemented in most Western European countries and North America in 1985, several recent case reports indicate that a definite, albeit very small, risk of HIV transmission still remains. The screening tests that are currently used cannot rule out a false-negative test result occurring during the window period. Moreover, massive transfusion of the donor during the donor procedure may result in an undetectable anti-HIV antibody titer (by dilution of donor blood) that consequently leads to a false-negative test result. These risks of HIV transmission via transplantation and important issues in HIV testing are discussed in detail. Furthermore, several recommendations for the prevention of transmission and a protocol for HIV testing for both organ and tissue donation are presented. These may serve as intermediary guidelines until official ones, such as already exist for blood donation, are defined by the transplantation communities. The exclusion of donors whose behavior may place potential recipients at risk for HIV infection is essential. A thorough heteroanamnesis of the donor's next of kin during the donor procedure should provide sufficient information about donor history to enable a decision to be made in this respect. Special attention is given to the question of whether the existing donor selection criteria for blood donation should be applied in a similar way to organ donation since the strict application of selection criteria may limit the number of available donor organs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)