The UK Human Tissue Authority is to investigate a website that puts people seeking organ transplants in direct contact with potential living donors for a registration fee.

The website, MatchingDonors, which is based in the United States, launched a UK version last week (www.matchingdonors.co.uk). An initial review by the authority said that the website charged up to $595 (£375; €470) for potential organ recipients to register.

Arranging so called “directed altruistic donations” is not illegal in the United Kingdom, providing that there is valid consent between the parties and that no reward is given, received, offered, or sought for the supply of an organ.

Allan Marriott-Smith, director of strategy and quality at the authority, said that it hoped to clarify how the website would operate …