Yes, you may be able to donate a CPAP machine, but acceptance is not automatic. The safest route is a program that confirms it can accept your exact device, checks its condition and recall status, and has a lawful process for preparing and dispensing it.
Do not give the machine directly to another person and assume it is ready to use. CPAP settings, device mode, mask fit, and follow-up are specific to the recipient. If the machine is still part of your treatment, arrange a replacement with your clinician or equipment supplier before giving it away.
First, check whether the machine is eligible
Work through these questions before contacting a donation program:
- Do you own it? A rented machine belongs to the supplier until the rental terms transfer ownership.
- Can you identify it? Find the manufacturer, model, and serial number without removing or covering the device label.
- Is it affected by a recall? Check both the FDA database and the manufacturer's current recall information.
- Is it in good working condition? Disclose error messages, cracked parts, unusual noise, smoke exposure, water damage, pests, mold, or use of an ozone cleaner.
- Does a program accept it now? Ask before packing or shipping. Programs may exclude particular models, ages, brands, conditions, or accessories.
A machine can power on and still be unsuitable. A program may reject it because clinical data cannot be read, replacement parts are unavailable, the device has been recalled, or its condition cannot be safely evaluated.
Make sure you own the CPAP machine
Check your rental agreement, insurer statements, or durable medical equipment supplier records. With Original Medicare, for example, the supplier is paid to rent a CPAP machine for 13 continuous months before the machine becomes the patient's property. Other insurers and suppliers may use different terms 1.
If the machine is still rented, return it to the supplier instead of donating it. If it belonged to someone who died, the estate representative should also confirm ownership and check for a supplier return obligation.
Donation, resale, and prescription rules are not the same
In the United States, home CPAP equipment is generally supplied as a prescription device. FDA-cleared home CPAP labeling identifies prescription-only use, and federal prescription-device rules restrict sale to or on the order of a licensed practitioner 2 3.
That does not create one simple nationwide answer for every gift, resale, or donation. Ownership, possession, dispensing, state law, and the recipient's location can all matter. A donation program, licensed equipment provider, or local regulator can tell you what process applies. A direct handoff or informal online sale skips the screening, dispensing, and setup protections that a recipient needs. Outside the United States, follow the medical-device and prescription rules where the donor and recipient live.
Check the exact model and serial number for recalls
Search the FDA Medical Device Recalls database using the manufacturer and product name, then follow the manufacturer's notice for the exact model and serial number. The FDA explains that a database posting date may be later than the date a company began its recall, so do not judge recall status from the age of a notice alone 4.
This step is especially important for Philips Respironics devices. The 2021 recall covered certain CPAP, bilevel, and ventilator models because the sound-abatement foam could break down. FDA guidance directs owners to identify affected devices and use the applicable remediation process 5.
Do not donate a machine that remains under recall or is marked for return to its manufacturer. For a repaired, remediated, or replacement device, verify the exact serial number with the manufacturer and the donation program rather than assuming it is eligible based on its brand.
If you are currently using a recalled machine, do not stop treatment solely to prepare it for donation. Discuss the risks, benefits, and replacement plan with your clinician first 5.
Current U.S. programs to check
The following nonprofit pages were active when this article was updated. Their criteria can change, so use the live form or contact information before shipping.
Wellness, Sleep and Circadian Network
The Wellness, Sleep and Circadian Network, formerly the American Sleep Apnea Association, says it accepts gently used PAP devices that are in good working condition, data capable, and from smoke-free homes. It accepts masks, headgear, tubing, chambers, and filters only when they are unopened and in the original packaging. Its live page also lists model, memory, condition, and brand exclusions 6.
Complete the current donation form before shipping. Do not rely on an old address or an earlier list of accepted models.
Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research and Education Foundation
The Reggie White Foundation says it accepts new or gently used CPAP and bilevel machines, power cords, and some supplies. It asks donors to email machine information and photos because older devices may be out of warranty or lack replacement parts. It does not accept recalled Philips units that are supposed to be returned after replacement 7.
Contact the foundation first, even if your machine appears to match the page. Preapproval reduces the chance of sending equipment the program must discard.
A local sleep clinic or licensed equipment supplier may also know of a nearby program, but ask for the receiving organization's written criteria. A referral is not the same as confirmation that your device will be accepted.
What to include
Send only what the program requests. This may include:
- The machine and its matching manufacturer power supply
- The humidifier unit or chamber, if specifically accepted
- The carrying case
- An owner manual, if available
- Factory-sealed masks, cushions, headgear, tubing, chambers, or filters
Do not substitute an incompatible power supply. Do not send medication, distilled water, loose cleaning chemicals, or unrequested batteries.
Used masks, cushions, headgear, tubing, filters, and humidifier chambers have different patient-contact and reprocessing requirements. Home washing does not prove that an item is suitable for a second person. Unless a program explicitly accepts a used component and explains how it handles that component, leave it out. FDA guidance describes proper reusable-device reprocessing as a validated, multistep process of cleaning followed by disinfection or sterilization as appropriate 8.
Protect therapy data and account access
Many CPAP machines store usage and treatment data on an SD card, in internal memory, or through a connected account 2. Before donation:
- Save any records you or your clinician still need.
- Remove the SD card unless the program specifically requests it. If it does, ask whether it wants the original card erased or a blank replacement.
- Use the manufacturer's instructions to clear stored user data. A generic factory-reset menu may not erase every type of storage.
- Unlink the machine from your app, cloud account, modem service, or equipment supplier account. Ask the manufacturer or supplier for help if the process is unclear.
- Remove labels and paperwork that show your name, address, prescription, or insurance information, but keep the model, serial number, and device-identification labels intact.
NIST defines media sanitization as making access to target data infeasible and recommends choosing a method appropriate to the storage medium and sensitivity of the information. That is why model-specific instructions matter more than simply deleting a visible file 9.
Clean it without claiming it has been sanitized
Follow the owner's manual for routine cleaning. Empty and dry the humidifier chamber, clean only detachable parts as directed, and wipe the outside of the electrical unit with a damp cloth if the manufacturer permits it. Do not submerge the machine, spray liquid into it, open the housing, or improvise an internal disinfection process.
Do not use an ozone or ultraviolet device to prepare a CPAP for donation. FDA says there are no cleared or approved devices for cleaning, disinfecting, or sanitizing the CPAP machine itself. It has authorized one add-on bacterial-reduction device for certain masks and hoses, but that does not replace the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. FDA also warns that ozone and UV can damage CPAP accessories 10.
Tell the program how the machine was stored and whether it was exposed to smoke, pests, mold, flooding, or ozone. Describe it as cleaned according to the manual, not as sterile or professionally sanitized. The receiving program must decide whether and how the device can be evaluated and reprocessed for another person.
The recipient still needs clinical setup
Donation transfers equipment, not your diagnosis or settings. For adults with obstructive sleep apnea, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine guideline says PAP treatment should be based on a diagnosis established with objective testing and should include follow-up that monitors effectiveness, usage, and problems 11.
The recipient may need a different pressure range, treatment mode, mask, humidification plan, or even a different type of PAP device. Your fixed pressure or bilevel settings should not be copied to another person. The AASM guideline does not cover central sleep apnea or sleep-related hypoventilation, so those conditions need a separate clinical pathway 11. A legitimate program should have a process for prescription review, compatible accessories, device configuration, education, and follow-up.
Pack and ship only after acceptance
Once a program approves the machine:
- Empty and fully dry the humidifier chamber.
- Protect the machine from impact and keep loose parts from striking the screen or housing.
- Include the approved power supply and only the accessories the program requested.
- Put the program's required donor form or identifying information in the package.
- Use tracking and keep the acceptance message until delivery is confirmed.
If you include a lithium battery, tell the carrier. Shipping rules depend on the battery, its condition, how it is packed, the service, and the destination. USPS currently restricts used devices containing or packed with lithium batteries to domestic surface transportation, subject to its eligibility and packaging rules 12. Other carriers have their own requirements.
Be cautious with international donations
Do not mail a CPAP directly overseas simply because someone says it is needed. The World Health Organization recommends that medical-device donations respond to a recipient's request, comply with national import and device rules, suit the local clinical setting, and account for power, consumables, spare parts, training, maintenance, transport, customs, and end-of-life disposal 13.
Work through an organization that has a named receiving partner and a plan for lawful import, prescription or clinical oversight, compatible masks and filters, technical support, and future supplies. Otherwise, a functional machine can become unusable equipment that the recipient must store or discard.
If the machine cannot be donated
Start with the manufacturer or equipment supplier. They may have a recall return, take-back, refurbishment, or recycling route for that model.
If they do not, contact your local solid-waste authority or electronics-recycling program and describe the item as a used medical electrical device. EPA recommends deleting personal information, removing batteries for separate handling, and checking state or community recycling facilities. It also notes that manufacturers and retailers may offer electronics-recycling options 14.
Do not assume that every location bans a CPAP from household trash or accepts it at curbside recycling. Local rules differ. Never place a lithium-ion battery in household trash or a curbside recycling bin; use an approved battery collection route 14.
A final donation checklist
Before the machine leaves your hands, confirm that:
- You own it and are no longer relying on it for treatment
- The exact model and serial number have been checked for recalls
- The program has approved the device and provided current instructions
- You disclosed damage, errors, smoke, water, mold, pests, and ozone exposure
- Personal data and account links have been handled
- Only requested accessories are included
- The humidifier is empty and dry
- Any battery meets the carrier's current rules
- The recipient program, not the donor, will handle prescription review and setup
A careful donation can extend the useful life of a CPAP machine. The key is to treat it as prescription medical equipment, not as an ordinary household appliance.
