FDA seeks public input - Lifting Rules on Blood Donations From Gay & Bi Men

[Jim Allen]

https://www.poz.com/article/fda-proposes-lifting-rules-blood-donations-gay-bi-men

FDA Proposes Lifting Rules on Blood Donations From Gay and Bi Men

FDA issued draft guidelines on a new blood donation policy; it now seeks public comment before the changes are finalized.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering allowing more gay and bisexual men to donate blood. More specifically, it proposes ending the current policy on who can and cannot donate blood and switching to “gender-inclusive, individual risk-based questions to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV,” according to an FDA press statement.

Currently, men who have sex with men can donate blood and plasma if they haven’t had sex in the previous three months. Instead of enforcing this blanket ban—which prohibits monogamous, HIV-negative gay and bisexual men from donating blood—the FDA proposes using a questionnaire to assess a person’s risk. The questionnaire would apply to everyone, regardless of sexuality or gender.

Before it finalizes the new policy, the FDA is seeking public comment. You can read the draft guidelines on FDA.gov  and comment on them via Regulations.gov

The FDA will consider comments submitted within 60 days.

[Jim Allen]

https://www.poz.com/article/fda-proposes-lifting-rules-blood-donations-gay-bi-men

UPDATE: FDA Eases Rules on Blood Donations From Gay and Bi Men

Under the new policy, all potential donors will answer a questionnaire that evaluates each person’s individual risk, regardless of their sex or gender. Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can now donate blood. According to the FDA, people who report the following will not be eligible to donate blood:

Anyone who had a new sexual partner in the past three months

Anyone with more than one sexual partner in the past three months

Anyone who had anal sex in the past three months

Anyone taking HIV medications to treat or prevent HIV, including pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP).