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More than 50% of patients with chronic renal failure will be suppressed in their cell-mediated immune response to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). This applies in renal failure attributable to juvenile onset diabetes as well as other types of end stage renal disease. Significantly better kidney survival of both living related and cadaver grafts is seen in diabetic patients who are non-responsive to DNCB. Twelve-month kidney survival for DNCB-negative patients receiving living related allografts is 71% compared with 25% for DNCB-positive patients. Twelve-month kidney survival in cadaver recipients is 39% in DNCB-negative compared with 9% for DNCB-positive patients. Successful second grafts were done in DNCB-negative diabetic patients, however, all second grafts in DNCB-positive patients failed in less than 3 months. DNCB skin test reactivity as a measure of cell-mediated response is a valuable predictor of immunological outcome of transplantation in patients whose renal disease results from juvenile onset diabetes. Patient survival in DNCB nonresponders is nearly twice that of DNCB responders. Differences in outcome following transplantation could not be accounted for by HLA disparity, transfusion history, or other variables known to effect transplant outcome. Kidney and patient survival in DNCB-positive diabetic patients receiving either cadaver or living related allografts is sufficiently low as to identify them as a subpopulation of renal failure patients who should be treated by dialysis, or selected for special protocols which might provide immunological manipulation prior to transplantation to improve their treatment outcome.