US proposes to ease blood donor restrictions on gay and bisexual men

U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposes blood donor evaluation measures individual risk and does not exclude people based on sexual orientation or gender

To Grace Wade

On January 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new rules to make it easier for gay and bisexual men to donate blood. The proposed guidelines are similar to those in countries such as the UK and Canada. They recommend screening blood donors based on the type of sexual activity they engage in rather than on gender or sexual orientation.

All donated blood is screened for pathogens, but these tests cannot accurately detect HIV or hepatitis infection until weeks to months after exposure. Blood donations have traditionally been restricted in the United States because men who have sex with men are at increased risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis.

Currently, in the United States, men who have had sex with men in the past three months cannot donate blood. Also, anyone who has had sex in the past three months with a man who has sex with another man is prohibited from donating. That is why men in monogamous relationships with other men cannot donate blood, even though they are at a much lower risk of contracting HIV than men with multiple partners.

The FDA now proposes that men who have sex with men can donate blood, as long as they have not had anal sex with a new partner or multiple partners in the past three months. The decision is based on the results of her ADVANCE study for the FDA, which examined the impact of the guideline change. The results suggest that these modifications do not compromise blood supply safety. Instead, no one, regardless of gender, can donate blood if they have new or multiple sexual partners and report having had anal sex within the past three months.

“This has to do with the risk of exchanging blood between vaginal and anal intercourse,” FDA’s Peter Marks said at a press conference. related to that.”

Marks said the guidance also applies to those who use condoms during anal sex.

The proposal would also ban blood donations from people taking HIV-preventive medications such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). , said people who use the drug have a higher incidence of HIV compared to the general population.

“We need to implement this donor deferral until we can better sort who is at lower risk among the group taking PrEP,” he said. That’s not to say we won’t continue to do so and try to refine the guidelines further.”

The public has 60 days to comment on the guidelines, after which FDA can revise the guidance before finalizing it. Ultimately, Marks said, it shouldn’t take long for blood donation centers to update their screening questionnaires.

An American Red Cross spokeswoman said: “We are pleased that the FDA is proposing to determine blood donor eligibility using a gender-inclusive risk-based assessment of individuals, regardless of sexual orientation. I will.”

At a press conference, FDA Commissioner Robert Calif said, “Donating blood is one of several important symbolic ways of showing compassion for others.” And we want everyone to be able to use it.”

“LGBTQ+ advocates and other health advocacy leaders have spent decades pressuring the FDA and other regulators to update their policies to adopt an approach rooted in science rather than identity. Robinson said in a statement, “This is an outdated policy that restricts gays, bisexuals, and other men who have sex with men from donating blood.” It represents an important first step toward dismantling discriminatory blood donation policies in the United States.”

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